Chief Electoral Officer, Jharkhand K Ravi Kumar has said that the work of distribution of voter slips for the second phase of Assembly Elections 2024 has been completed. The remaining voter slips have been deposited in the RO's office. FST and SST are being deployed in the second phase areas. In the areas where the first phase of polling has been completed, relaxation is being given under the provisions of the Election Commission of India, but still the borders and checkposts of the district have been kept active. He was addressing media representatives at the Election House on Saturday.
Kumar said that 83 cases related to violation of the Model Code of Conduct have been registered. The maximum number of 33 cases has been registered in Garhwa. He has requested all the candidates to follow the model code of conduct and also keep their polling agents and workers alert about it. He said that many complaints have been received regarding unauthorized use of candidates' symbols in the first phase of elections. As per the instructions of the Election Commission of India, the use of any kind of symbol related to the election symbol of the candidates is completely prohibited at all polling stations and within its 200 meter radius.
He said that no message appealing to the voters by any candidate should be broadcast in the silent period 48 hours before the end of polling. Media representatives can cover the voting of the candidates, but no kind of appeal or political rhetoric should be broadcast by them. He said that on the day of polling, no kind of pamphlet related to the candidates should be distributed by the polling agents of the candidates. The polling agent is allowed to give only the serial number of the candidate to the voter on a plain paper. Apart from this, giving the name of the candidate or any kind of symbol is prohibited.
He said that since the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct in the state, a total of illegal material and cash worth more than Rs 2 billion 14 crores has been seized by various agencies.
