Panaji: The Chief Electoral Officer, Shri Ramesh Verma, IAS has appealed to representatives of Political Parties to adhere Election Commission guidelines during the campaign process for the forthcoming General Election to Lok Sabha 2024 and informed that not to give any chance to initiate action against any violation.
The Chief Electoral Officer was speaking at a meeting held with representatives of political parties at Office of Chief Electoral Officer at Altinho Panaji today. The meeting was called to brief about the preparedness and various measures adopted by the Election Commission of India to conduct election free, fair and peaceful manner.
The meeting was chaired by the Chief Electoral Officer Shri Ramesh Verma, IAS and participated by Shri Sunil Masurkar, Additional CEO, Smt TriveniVelip, Jt CEO, and Smt Sangeeta Naik, other Nodal Officers and representatives of Political Parties.
During the course of deliberations concerned Nodal Officer gave detailed presentation and brief on Election Expenditure Monitoring, Complaint Monitoring, Model Code of Conduct, Suvidha App, Eroll, Law and Order and facilities on Postal Ballot.
CEO further informed that the office of the Chief Electoral officer has geared-up its machinery to ensure conduct of Lok Sabha elections to be desired standards, free and fair manner and sought cooperation from all the political parties to remain vigilant while campaigning as per the guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India. He informed that control rooms are setup 24X7 and made operational at various places in the state.
CEO requested all the political parties to take necessary permission to do campaigning like holding public meetings, posters, banners, release of advertisement in print or electronic media. If any such violation is observed strict action will be initiated.
It is further reiterated that a visible and rigorous enforcement of Model Code of Conduct enhances the credibility of the electors and gives confidence to the voters. It ensures that electoral offences, Malpractices and corrupt practices such as impersonation, bribing and inducement of voters, threat and intimidates to the voters shall be prevented by all means.
It is also informed that the Election Commission of India has appointed more teams to monitor expenditure expenses during the election. CEO mentioned that this time the ECI has also provided various facilities like Postal Ballot to the absentee voters like Person with Disabilities (PwDs), Senior Citizen in the age group of 85+ years and for Covid 19 suspected persons. The voting by postal ballot has to be completed at least one day before the poll day.
Smt Sangeeta Naik, Nodal Officer briefed expenditure monitoring and source of complaint and informed that ECI will keep vigil through various sources and enforcement agencies.
She further informed that modification in name, PWD tagging, replacement of EPIC, including request if any for adding names in the electoral Roll received after March 16, 2024 will be kept pending till completion of Election Process.
The representatives of Political parties who attended the meeting were Shri Pundalik Raut Desai, Bhartiya Janata Party ,Shri Savio de Souza, General Secretary Congress Party, , Shri Sandeep Vernekar, Maharastrawadi Gomantak Party and Shri Durgadas Kamat, Vice President of Goa Forward Party, Shri Errol Pires, AAP and Shri Ajay Kholkar, RGP.
