All election processes should be completed with transparency and fairness – Mrs. Reena Babasaheb Kangale

Chief Electoral Officer Smt. Reena Babasaheb Kangale today addressed the training of Returning Officers, Assistant Returning Officers, Nodal Officers and Technical Officers for the Assembly by-election. She asked to complete all the processes with transparency and fairness during the Assembly by-election. For this, she instructed to seriously follow the guidelines and prescribed procedures of the Election Commission of India. Smt. Kangale said in the training that by-election will be held for a vacant seat of the Assembly in the state. The process for this will start soon. Joint Chief Electoral Officer Shri P.S. Dhruv was also present in the training.

Chief Electoral Officer Mrs. Kangale said that the model code of conduct will come into effect as soon as the Election Commission of India announces the date of the by-election. She asked the concerned officials to inspect all the polling stations in the assembly constituency and take stock of the necessary facilities for a smooth and uninterrupted election. She instructed to ensure arrangements for shade, drinking water, toilets, ramps etc. in all the polling stations. She asked to work actively in mutual coordination for a hassle-free by-election. She asked to discuss with the trainers in today’s training and resolve doubts related to their respective branches. Raipur Collector Dr. Gaurav Kumar Singh and Municipal Corporation Commissioner Mr. Abinash Mishra were also present during this time.

During the one-day training organized by the Chief Electoral Officer’s office, the officers were informed in nine sessions about the Model Code of Conduct, nomination process, Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC), electoral rolls, postal ballots, ETPBS, election expenditure monitoring, District Election Management Plan (DEMP), polling parties and polling day arrangements, EVMs, counting of votes and the details of IT applications used during the election. National Level Master Trainer Shri Pulak Bhattacharya told the officers about the various provisions of the Model Code of Conduct. He said that after the election campaign ends, a person who is not a resident of that area will have to go out of the area. While the Model Code of Conduct is in effect, permission will have to be taken from the administration for any kind of event in the district.

National Level Master Trainer Shri U.S. Aggarwal gave detailed information about the nomination process during the training. He told about the eligibility of the candidates, documents to be attached at the time of nomination, nomination fee, scrutiny of nomination papers, election symbol allocation, affidavits to be given by the candidates and the necessary arrangements for nomination in the office of the Returning Officer. Assistant Chief Electoral Officer Smt. Sharda Aggarwal told about the functions and functioning of the MCMC and said that print media cell, electronic media cell and social media cell are to be formed to monitor the model code of conduct and election expenditure. She also asked to keep an eye on paid news through this. She told that opinion polls and exit polls will be banned between the dates fixed by the Election Commission of India.

Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Mr. Vinay Agarwal gave detailed information to the Returning Officer, Assistant Returning Officer and Nodal Officers about the process of issuing electoral rolls, postal ballots and ETPBS. He also told about the IT applications and mobile apps used during elections. Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Mr. Apoorv Priyesh Toppo told about the precautions to be taken during monitoring of election expenditure of candidates. Assistant Chief Electoral Officer Mr. Rupesh Verma gave information about the District Election Management Plan as well as the arrangements for polling parties and polling day and EVMs in the training. National Level Master Trainer Mr. Pranav Singh told the officers about the preparations for counting of votes, arrangements at the counting center and declaration of election results.