'No candidate objects to calculations of Expenditure Observer'

The team of election expenditure observers have begun the process of calculating the expenditure of candidates on Wednesday. Five candidates of the total 14 candidates in fray, have appeared before the Expenditure Observer for the expenditure calculation on Wednesday.

Briefing mediapersons, Assistant Expenditure Observer Krishnaprasad said that candidates from the BJP, Congress, SDPI, AAP and independent candidate Maxim Pinto appeared before the committee for the verification process. Their expenditure is verified by comparing the candidates expenditure register with that of the shadow register maintained by the Expenditure Observer. Those candidates who have failed to appear for account calculation on Wednesday, can appear before the Observer on April 7. If they fail to appear for the second time, the Returning Officer can take appropriate action against the candidate, he said.

Agreeing that discrepancies were found while calculating the expenditure, the AEO said that none of the candidate disputed over the claims made by the Expenditure Observer and have agreed to the calculations of the EO. 

8,800 polling personnel

A total of 8,800 of polling personnel have been deployed for election duty. They include, 2,200 Presiding Officers, 2,200 Assistant Presiding Officers and 4,400 booth level officers. Pregnant women, those who are about to retire within six months, judicial staff, physically challenged, veterinary doctors and personnel, health department staff, Akashavani and DD staff and commercial banks with minimum staff can get exemption from election duty, Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim said. Training for Presiding and Assistant Presiding Officers has commenced.

Ballot papers

The district administration has also received 60,000 ballot papers to be distributed to service voters and for the purpose of postal ballot and tendered voting. Twenty ballot papers will be distributed to each polling booth for tendered voting, where a genuine voter will be given a chance to vote if a fake voter has voted in the genuine voter’s name. However, the tendered votes will not be considered during the counting of polls, the DC said.

Further, he said that of the 14,113 weapons, 13,538 have been deposited with the authorities concerned. A total of 46 cases of violation of model code of conduct including two fresh cases against SCDCC Bank have been registered. 

The District Congress Committee filed a complaint with the Returning Officer on Wednesday, against the BJP using ‘Hara Hara Modi’ slogan in their election campaign.

Commenting on the issue of hiking the toll in Brahmarakutlu tool gate, the deputy commissioner said that he has ordered the NHAI to ensure that the revised toll is withheld in the wake of election of code of conduct. “I have given the order based on the public complaint,” A B Ibrahim said.