The complaint redressal system for free, fair and transparent elections should be strengthened and strict action should be ensured against election related crimes.
Continuous monitoring of election related complaints is necessary by the District Election Officer for quality redressal.
Chief Electoral Officer Anupam Rajan gave these instructions during the review of preparations for Lok Sabha elections in the districts of Bhopal and Narmadapuram divisions in the first session in the Commissioner auditorium, Bhopal on Saturday.
In view of the heat, he instructed to make necessary arrangements like tents, medical kits and water at the polling stations and to ensure availability of medical kits and medicines with the sector officers.
He said that ORS and other essential medicines should also be arranged for the polling team and security personnel. Shri Rajan gave instructions for timely distribution of voter slips.
Warehouses and other storage facilities should be inspected
Rajan said that warehouses and other storehouses where illegal liquor etc. may be stored should be inspected.
Rajan directed that police forces should follow the SOP prescribed by the Election Commission of India.
He directed to take preventive action against any person who may try to create disturbance during the electoral process.
The Chief Electoral Officer inquired about the action taken against criminal elements so far in view of the Lok Sabha elections.
He said that along with making tight security arrangements in sensitive and vulnerable areas, immediate and strict action should be taken on complaints or information of intimidating, threatening or luring voters.
The Chief Electoral Officer gave instructions to be strict at the check posts and to conduct intensive searches of the vehicles.
He also asked to strictly follow the SOP 48 hours before voting.
Rajan said that for smooth voting, District Election Officer and Superintendent of Police should personally inspect such locations where there is more than one polling station.
Emphasizing the need to take strict security measures at vulnerable and critical polling stations, he said that the Election Commission has now given permission to install cameras equal to 75 percent of the total number of polling stations as per the requirement for webcasting. Cameras for webcasting can also be installed inside and outside the polling station.
Shri Rajan also sought information about the cases of violation of election rules registered so far in every district of the division and the preventive action taken against criminal elements.
He highlighted the need to prevent transportation of large amounts of cash, precious metals and prohibited items during the election process and to carry out intensive frisking of vehicles at check posts.
The Chief Electoral Officer also gave instructions to all the District Election Officers to give wide publicity to the ‘cVIGIL app’, so that if a case of violation of the Model Code of Conduct comes up, citizens can immediately complain about it through the mobile app.
Rajan also reviewed the district wise preparations for the voting day in the meeting.
He also gave instructions for wide publicity regarding arrangements related to voting facilities for voters above 85 years of age and differently-abled voters.
He said that in such constituencies, polling parties as well as sector officers should be given hands-on training to connect EVMs and VHPET machines.
Efforts to increase voting percentage must
The Chief Electoral Officer sought details of the SVEEP activities being carried out in the districts to increase the voting percentage.
He gave instructions to give a comprehensive format to the SVEEP activities to motivate the eligible citizens to come to the polling booth and cast their vote in the summer season.
Rajan emphasized on making arrangements for parking of vehicles near the polling booths.
He directed to build more and more model booths in urban areas and organize SVEEP activities with the participation of various social and business organizations to encourage voters to vote. He stressed on running special campaigns like “Dastak Abhiyaan” to create voter awareness in areas where turnout was below average in previous elections.
Rajan said that the voting percentage should be more than the last assembly elections.
He also discussed the preparation of voter-slip and ASD list to be given to voters.
Videography of every election related activity should also be done.
The activities of the parties formed to monitor the election expenditure of the candidates were also discussed in the meeting.
Inspector General of Police, Law and Order and Security and State Police Nodal Officer Anshuman Singh said that a fitness test of the vehicles to be used in the elections should be done to ensure their prevailing condition.
He said that it should be ensured that the person being removed from the district under (Zilabadar) does not continue to stay in the district.
Also the action taken by the police must be widely publicized.
Adequate security arrangements during voting and counting must be ensured. Even the smallest incident must not be ignored.
Joint Chief Electoral Officer Madhya Pradesh Vivek Shrotriya, Commissioner Bhopal Division Dr. Pawan Sharma, Police Commissioner Bhopal Harinarayan Chari Mishra, Inspector General of Police Bhopal, Narmadapuram and Collectors and Superintendents of Police of all the districts of both the divisions were present in the meeting.
