Chief Electoral Officer Madhya Pradesh Anupam Rajan conducted a detailed review of the preparations for the upcoming assembly elections in Sagar division in compliance with the instructions of the Election Commission of India. Collectors and Superintendents of Police of all the districts of the division were present in the review meeting held in Orchha of Niwari district. Preparations for the Assembly elections-2023 were reviewed in detail in the meeting.
Directions were given in the meeting to use e-challan in the election process. Polling personnel should be given maximum training on EVMs and VVPATs. Ensure strict adherence to the Model Code of Conduct during the election process. Prepare two security plans for peaceful elections. Information about postal voting should be provided to the eligible persons for postal voting within the time limit. There should be no duplication in the voter list.
It was told in the meeting that more than 60 lakh voters will vote at more than 7000 polling booths in Sagar division. Ensure that the names of deceased do not remain in the list. EPIC cards should be distributed to voters whose names have been added to the list. All returning officers should visit the polling booths of their area and ensure availability of all basic facilities at the polling booths. It was directed that polling booths with more than 1500 voters should be divided into two parts for the convenience of the voters. The new polling booth should be built in the same premises or in a nearby building.
Rajan directed that inter-state and inter-district checkpoints should be started immediately, so that action can be initiated. Ballot preparation should be done well for the employees engaged in election work, senior citizens above 80 years of age, disabled people and people who have been severely affected by Covid. BLO should also know which voters are to be provided the facility of postal ballot. Special monitoring should be maintained on social media, so that no person can spoil the atmosphere by posting or re-posting communal posts. To maintain law and order, prohibitory action and action to expel out of district should be taken against people with criminal background. To prevent material influencing the elections, checkpoints should be set up at the district and state borders and strict checking of vehicles should be ensured. Strict action should be taken against illegal manufacturing and transportation of liquor. Flying squad and SST should work diligently.
The cVigil mobile app created for election related complaints should be widely publicized. Instructions were given to run voter awareness campaigns along with ensuring security arrangements in the polling booths of vulnerable areas.
Rajan appreciated the action of confiscation of silver and cash in Sagar district and said that all the districts should take such action. Similarly, he also appreciated the activities being done under the SVEEP plan of Sagar. Collector Sagar Deepak Arya displayed a video of SVEEP activities in the meeting.
Joint Chief Electoral Officer Rakesh Singh, Joint Chief Electoral Officer Smt. Ruchika Chauhan, Inspector General of Police, Law and Order and Security Madhya Pradesh and State Police Nodal Officer Anurag along with Divisional Commissioner Dr. Virendra Singh Rawat, IG Pramod Verma, DIG Sunil Kumar Jain, all the Collectors and Superintendents of Police involved in the elections in their respective districts gave information regarding the preparations made for elections in their respective districts.
