Arrangements for free and fair polls ensured in state: Jaideep Govind

Bhopal: Chief Electoral officer Shri Jaideep Govind apprised officers from West Bengal about better arrangements ensured for free and fair Vidhan Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh. These officers called on Shri Govind today. He informed that all electoral processes are being ensured as per directives of Election Commission of India. Officers from West Bengal included Chief Electoral Officer Shri Sunil Kumar Gupta and Joint Chief Electoral Officers Shri Jaideep Mukhopadhyay and Shri Amit Roy.

Officers from West Bengal visited various sections of office of the Chief Electoral Officer and witnessed electoral processes there. Additional Chief Electoral Officer Shri V.L. Kanta Rao apprised them about Model Code of Conduct (MCC), Grievance Cell, call centre and other branches’ functioning. Shri Kanta Rao informed that 53 thousand 896 polling booths have been set up in 230 Vidhan Sabha constituencies in Madhya Pradesh. Of these, 12 thousand 735 are in urban and 41 thousand 161 in rural areas. Besides, 9 auxiliary polling booths have also been set up. Effective efforts were made in Madhya Pradesh during last 2 years to include names of all voters in electoral rolls and names of about 2 crore eligible voters were included.
As per directives of Election Commission of India, officers posted at the same place for 3 or more years have been transferred. Services of 4.85 lakh officers and employees are being sought for polling. For this, they have been trained in different phases. Additional CEO Shri Rao informed that as per directive of Election Commission, SST has seized Rs. 3.69 crore to ensure free and fair polls apart from 35 thousand litre liquor. Action has been taken in 2 lakh 41 thousand cases of model code of conduct’s violation of which FIRs have been lodged in 254 cases. For security and peace during elections, 2.57 lakh arms have been got deposited. Action has been taken against 114 persons under National Security Act.
Shri Rao informed that special security forces are being sent to Naxal-affected Balaghat district. Constant checking is being done on inter-state check-posts. SVEEP plan of every district has been chalked to increase poll percentage in the state and action is being ensured accordingly. Banks, media houses and voluntary organisations have been mad partners for creating voter awareness.
Officers from West Bengal will witness election preparations in Raisen district on November 12. Later, they will also take stock of election preparations in Jabalpur district.