Process to file nominations by candidates for lok Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh is on. So far, 40 nominations have been filed in 19 constituencies under first and second phase of elections. For the first phase, 33 nominations were filed in 9 constituencies of the first phase and 7 nominations in 10 constituencies of the second phase so far. A total of 29 nominations were filed for the 2 phases today. For the first phase, 6 nominations were filed in Rewa, 3 each in Sidhi, Mandla and Chhindwara and 2 nominations each were filed in Shahdol, Jabalpur and Balaghat.
Polling for the first phase would be held on April 10, notification for this was issued on March 15, last date for filing nominations is March 22, Scrutiny of nomination papers would be held on March 24, and the date for withdrawal of nominations is March 26.
Nine constituencies that would go to poll in the first phase include Satna, Rewa, Sidhi, Shahdol, Jabalpur, Mandla, Balaghat, Chhindwara and Hoshangabad.
For the second phase polling for which will be held on April 17 after notification on March 19, as many as 5 candidates filed nominations in 10 constituencies including 2 each in Gwalior, Damoh and one in Tikamgarh.
Polling for the second phase would be held on April 17, Date for notification was today March 19, last date for filing nominations is March 26, Scrutiny of nomination papers would be held on March 27, while the date for withdrawal of nominations would be March 29.
Ten constituencies that would go to poll in the second phase of elctiones in state include Morena, Bhind, Gwalior, Guna, Sagar, Tikamgarh, Damoh, Khajuraho, Bhopal and Rajgarh.
Media certificate for political advertisements
Bhopal: Election Commission of India (ECI) has clarified some issues pertaining to media certification of political advertisements. The commission has said that a media certification committee will certify audio-visual display of political advertisements and electioneering material. The commission said that no TV channel or cable operator will telecast an advertisement which may not be as per law and contains views not expressed modestly. The commission said that advertisements ridiculing caste, race, colour and nationality should not be certified. At the time of certifying advertisement, the committee will also issue a corrigendum saying that responsibility for advertisement’s fact and its contents rests solely with the publisher or advertiser. The committee will not be liable or accountable regarding any civil or criminal case filed as a result of this advertisement. The committee will inform concerning candidate within 24 hours. Members of MCMC will include returning officer of concerning lok Sabha constituency and an ARO not be below the rank of SDM.
Certificate for Mock Poll amended
Bhopal: Election Commission of India (ECI) has amended draft of Mock Poll certificate. The commission has directed office of the Chief Electoral Officer to inform about it to election duty staff and ensure adherence to these directives during lok Sabha elections. Now, serial numbers of ballot units and control units of EVMs used in polling booths should be written in the Mock Poll certificate apart from number of candidate-wise votes, number of votes visible during scrutiny of votes cast in Mock Poll and print paper slips. It should also be mentioned in the Mock Poll certificate whether number of votes seen on CU tally with the total number of votes cast for candidates. If more than one CU is used in a polling booth then serial numbers of all ballot units should be written. The commission has directed to convey this information to all election duty staff.
Be alert in monitoring of election expenses
Bhopal: Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed to be alert in monitoring of election expenses during lok Sabha elections. The commission has drawn attention of Chief Electoral Officers towards Compendium of Instructions. The commission hoped that election officers will ensure its strict enforcement for free and fair elections in the state. The commission clarified that an assistant expenditure observer (AEO) will be deployed in every Vidhan Sabha constituency of lok Sabha constituency. The AEO posted at lok Sabha constituency’s headquarters will coordinate with other AEOs in the constituency and ensure maintenance of candidates’ shadow observation registers and evidence folders. Accounting team will start accounting of political parties’ accounting from the day of election announcement and maintain candidates’ election expenses accounts after filing of nominations. Every lok Sabha constituency will have only one accounting team housed in the office of district election officer (DEO) to which other teams will send their reports. The commission has directed static surveillance teams, video surveillance teams and media certification committees (MCMCs) to send their reports regularly.