ECI deploys 13 POLL observers
Election Commission India has deployed 13 Expenditure Observers for Nagaland for monitoring the flow of illegal cash and other inducements during the upcoming election to the state assembly.
According to Nagaland Election Department sources, the ECI has deployed 13 Expenditure Observers from the officials deputed by the Central Board of Direct Taxes and Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBDT & CBEC).
They will act as Election Expenditure Observers and will monitor all the guidelines of the Election Commission of India framed to curb the use of money power in the run-up to the polls.
Nagaland Chief Electoral Officer J. Alam on January 14 informed that ceiling expenditure of a candidate is Rs. 8 Lakhs and anybody found carrying over Rs. 50,000 in cash during the election period was liable for explanation irrespective of whether it was being carried for political, business or personal purposes.
If any cash exceeding Rs 50,000 is found in a vehicle carrying the candidate or his agent or party worker, and also if political posters, liquor, guns, and other materials which are likely to be used for political campaigns valuing more than Rs. 10,000, these would also be subjected to seizure.
There will also be Monitoring Cells in the district headquarters, while every district will have an Election Expenditure Observer, besides the Micro Observers.
Moreover, District Level Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) headed by the Returning Officer or District Election Officer, DPRO concerned and other members will be set up for the purpose of monitoring certification of advertisements and to examine complaints of paid news.
He further informed that Electoral Rolls, after final publication of the Nagaland has a total of 11,81,731 electorate in the State as per the Special Summary Revision of Electoral Rolls published of which 5,97,204 are male while 5,84,527 are female voters.
ECI has announced that Assembly elections in Nagaland will be held on February 23 and the counting of votes will be taken on February 28.
Meanwhile, Nodal Officers for three poll-bound states underwent a one-day training in the office of the Election Commission of India in New Delhi on January 15.
Among them included three designated Nodal Officers from Nagaland- T.Roy Addl. CEO Nagaland, Maong Aier Commissioner Excise, and Akheto IGP(Ops).
At the training, the ECI and Director Generals of the ECI gave talks with power presentation on campaign for ethical voting, returns filed by political parties, and strategies to combat role of money power. As per the IPC section 1860/171b, bribery is a cognizable crime.
Printing presses cautioned
DIMAPUR, JAN 16 (NPN): As per the Representation of the People Act 1951 to ensure free and fair election, the DC Kohima and Returning Officer Kohima, has issued a notification on all printing presses to comply with certain procedures.
That printing presses shall not print election pamphlet or poster, other than copying it by hand for electioneering unless they are accompanied with a declaration on the identity of the publisher duly signed and attested by two persons who are personally known hime/her to be delivered to the printer in duplicate;
That within reasonable period of printing, the document being printed,bears on its face, the name and address of the printer; that a sample copy of the document with the copy of declaration of the publisher’s identity to the press owner to be submitted to the District Election Officer in prescribed format.
Also printing of mere hand bill, placard or poster merely announcing the date, time, place and other particulars of an election meeting or routine instructions to election agents or workers shall not be included in above specifications.
Futher, it was also notified that those guilty would be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six(6)months, or with fine, which may be extended to Rs.2000 or with both.