Poll officials told to keep an eye on candidates' expenses

District Election Observer Vijaylal Meena has asked the officials to keep a strict vigil on the expenses of the candidates contesting zilla and taluk panchayat elections.

Speaking at a meeting with police and Excise officials here on Tuesday, Meena said that the Election Commission has fixed a ceiling on the expenses of election candidates - the money spent on campaign materials, public meetings and vehicles.
A person contesting for taluk panchayat polls can spend Rs 50,000 for election and Rs one lakh for a zilla panchayat candidate. All the candidates should keep their expenses within the ceiling stipulated. The candidates should furnish the details of election expenses to the designated staff for enforcement of the model code of conduct.

Meena, who is also the Chief Conservator of Forests (Ballari range), reviewed the preparations for the elections.

He directed the election officials to personally visit the constituencies and collect
information on election expenses.

“The officials on election duty should keep a strict vigil on election expenses and
consider the complaints from public on poll malpractices
seriously.

They should submit a report to the Election Commission on the candidates furnishing false information on their election expenses,” Meena said.

Poll officials should be on guard and look for vehicles transporting cash, liquor or any gift to woo voters. Check posts should be set up on boarder areas and patrolling should be intensified during night. The police should keep vigil on the persons in history-sheet and those with criminal antecedents.

He said that voters should not be put into any hardship on the polling day and basic infrastructure facilities should be provided at all the polling booths. There should not be any room for errors in electoral roll, faulty electronic voting machine etc. All efforts should be made to ensure a free and fair poll, Meena directed.

Kolar Gold Fields Superintendent of Police H R Bhagwan Das said that check posts had been set up in the border areas of the district where head constables, constables and personnel from Home Guards and Excise department had been posted. Every vehicle passing through check posts is being thoroughly checked.

Das said that persons with criminal antecedents had been summoned to police station and an undertaking had been obtained from them stating that they won’t involve themselves in any criminal activity. Cases had been registered against some history-sheeters.

A meeting has been held with the leaders of political parties seeking their co-operation for the conduct of free, fair and peaceful elections.

Deputy Commissioner Dr K V Trilok Chandra, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive
Officer N M Panali, Superintendent of Police Divya Gopinath, Additional Deputy Commissioner R S Peddappaiah, election observer P Lakshmamma and others were present in the meeting.
DH News Service