At a meeting here on Thursday, printers were made aware of Election Commission’s directives regarding three Vidhan Sabha by-elections on August 21 in Bahoriband and Vijayraghavgarh in Katni district and Agar in Agar-Malwa district. Joint Chief Electoral Officer SS Bansal directed printing press operators to exercise caution while printing materials regarding bypolls.
He told printers that printing of material ordered by political parties and candidates should be undertaken as per directives of the commission and law.
Bansal said that printline, number of copies etc must be clearly mentioned on the printed materials including posters, pamphlets etc.. Printers must abide to provisions of Section 127 of the Representation of People Act-1951. The Section says that printed materials including (slips, posters etc.) must clearly mention names and addresses of printer and publisher. The printers will send 4 copies of printed material and one copy of publisher’s declaration to the CEO’s office within 3 days of printing.
He informed that violation of Election Commission’s directives and legal provisions will be taken seriously and will entail strict legal action. The printers were informed that the 4 copies of printed matter and declaration form must bear printers’ signatures and impression of rubber stamp.
Bansal informed that political parties can get published electioneering materials in Jabalpur, Indore and Ujjain also apart from Bhopal. Therefore, printers of these places must also keep in view Election Commission’s guidelines. Deputy Chief Electoral Officer SS Rawat was also present on the occasion.