Awareness to increase poll percentage
Chandigarh: Election Commission of India’s Director General (Awareness),Akshay Rout on Thursday directed the officers concerned of Haryana to take the help of different mediums of publicity so as to generate awareness among the people about their right to vote thus increasing the poll percentage in the Assembly elections in the State. Rout, who held a meeting with Chief Electoral Officer, Haryana, Shrikant Walgad and Election Officers of all districts of the State through video conference from Delhi, asked them to focus more on media as it is an important and effective medium. Keeping in view the less percentage of women voters as compared to men in recent lok Sabha elections, Rout directed them to prepare special action plan to remove this gap. The Deputy Commissioners of all districts informed him about the necessary arrangements made by them to spread awareness among voters. They informed that mediums like hoardings, banners, posters, wall paintings, cable TV, rally, publicity vehicles, anganwadi workers, self help groups, buses, bhajan parties, play groups, cycle rallies are being used to spread awareness among masses. Apart from this, help of print media is also being taken to spread awareness.
Punjab politicians to canvass in Haryana
Chandigarh: leaders of different political parties in Haryana, including Congress and INlD, are banking upon their Punjab counterparts to campaign for them in the State for the upcoming Assembly polls on October 15. Amarinder Singh, Deputy leader of the Congress in lok Sabha, will be campaigning for the Congress. On the other hand, State’s main opposition party INlD has already declared that Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will be their star campaigner. Badal’s party Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is contesting the Haryana elections in alliance with INlD much to the chagrin and discomfort of the BJP. SAD and BJP are allies in Punjab. Besides, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and Badal’s son Sukhbir Singh Badal will also be campaigning in Haryana.
Given the fact that Punjab is in the immediate neighbourhood of Haryana and that both states were together till 1966, the leaders of the two states are said to be familiar with issues that concern each other. However, it will be seen as to how the leaders from Punjab will handle some sensitive and contentious issues pending between Haryana and Punjab, especially sharing of river waters and construction of Sutlej Yamuna link (SYl) canal on which the stands of the same party are diagonally opposite in the two States. While INlD is considered to be a staunch supporter of Haryana interests, SAD-led by Badal wants immediate transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab, besides Punjabi speaking areas in Haryana. Similarly, INlD is aggressively campaigning for more water to the state from Punjab to which SAD is opposed.
295 candidates have filed nomination papers
Chandigarh: With 200 candidates filing their nomination papers for Haryana Assembly elections, the total number of candidates has gone up to 295. The last date for filing nomination papers is September 27. The scrutiny of nomination papers would be carried out on September 29 and candidates would be able to withdraw their candidature by October 1.
Campaign to arrest Proclaimed Offenders
Chandigarh: Ahead of the Assembly elections in Haryana, the State Police has decided to launch a special campaign to arrest the proclaimed offenders, bail jumpers and most wanted criminals at the earliest possible so that such criminals or anti social elements could not create any disruptions during elections. A spokesperson for the Police Department said that an Inter State Co-Ordination Meeting of Civil and Police Officers of Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh was also held under the chairmanship of Additional Director General of Police, law and Order, Akhil Mohammad at Karnal on Thursday. The Police Officers and Administrative Officers of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh present in the meeting assured their full cooperation in every possible manner. The officers were also given details of proclaimed offenders, bail jumpers and most wanted criminals so as to identify them and initiate action against them.