ECI IMPARTS TRAINING TO PUNJAB OFFICIALS ON EVM-VVPAT COUNTING
Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday organized a joint training and orientation programme for the 22 District Election Officers-cum-Returning Officers of Punjab on Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) counting. The training was imparted by ECI’s directors Nikhil Kumar, and VN Shukla in the presence of Punjab Chief Electoral Officer S Karuna Raju, among others. The specially designed programme was conducted as per ECI guidelines to train election officials with an aim to ensure smooth conduct of counting process in accordance with the protocols established by the ECI. The officials were imparted training on how to handle the EVM, VVPAT, counting of votes, counting of postal ballot, procedure to be followed during counting by electronically transmitted postal ballot system (ETBPS), basic infrastructure of counting centers, declaration of results and follow up actions, including sealing of EVMs and others after declaration of final result.
TELL ABOUT YOUR 18 WORKS IN 18 MONTHS AS MP: KHAJURIA TO JAKHAR
Major General (retired) Suresh Khajuria, who has recently joined BJP after bidding adieu to Aam Aadmi Party, on Friday openly challenged the incumbent Gurdaspur MP Sunil Jakhar to count his 18 works done for Gurdaspur during his 18 months tenure or to which 18 villages he went to listen to the problems of people. “Jakhar has only earned anger from the people of Gurdaspur constituency,” said Khajuria, who had unsuccessfully contested 2017 by-election against Jakhar as AAP candidate and lost his security deposit. "Before contesting elections, Jakhar had promised people of Sujanpur to give them solution for railway problem but nothing has been done so far. Jakhar has only indulged in patronizing illegal mining in his area. Owing to his patronization, the illegal mining is in full swing and prices of sand and gravel have sky rocketed,” he alleged.
AAP APPOINTS CHECHI NAWANSHAHR ASSEMBLY SEGMENT’S IN-CHARGE
To strengthen and expand its organizational base in the area, AAP on Friday appointed a local leader, Satnam Singh Chechi, as chief of the Nawanshahr (SBS Nagar) assembly segment. A list confirming the appointments of the new office-bearers was released from party headquarters in Chandigarh on Friday after it was approved by Punjab unit chief and MP Bhagwant Mann and chairman of the Core Committee, Principal Budhram.
PEOPLE HAVE DECIDED TO TEACH BADAL, CAPTAIN A LESSON: CHEEMA
AAP MLA and the Leader of Opposition in Punjab Vidhan Sabha Harpal Singh Cheema, taking a serious note of the ‘generosity’ shown by Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to the Badal family, on Friday said that the people of the state were well aware of their mutual bonhomie and the political gimmickry they indulge in so often, and had made up their mind to teach both of them lessons.
He said that had Capt Amarinder been a little too serious to punish the Badals, he would not have ‘sidelined’ firebrand Congress leader and Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, which proved the point.
Industrialists’ issues will be solved in a time-bound manner: Bansal
In a meeting of city’s industrialists at PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) in Sector 31 here, Congress candidate for Lok Sabha elections from Chandigarh, Pawan Kumar Bansal said that industry is a back-bone of any country and every government must provide a congenial atmosphere for the industrialists and businessmen to work in. "We need to elevate Chandigarh when it comes to 'ease of business' rankings. Once I am voted to power, I'll work towards it. Already we have mentioned in our manifesto that FAR (floor area ratio) for the industrial area shops/plots will be increased (Increase in FAR to 1.5, FAR of 2.0 for Marla sheds),” he said. Addressing another gathering at Sector 32 here, Bansal assured that soon Chandigarh will have 24x7 water supply and sanitation problem will be solved in a scientific way.
Kuldeep Bishnoi seeks votes for son Bhavya
On the last day of campaigning in Haryana, Congress leader and MLA Kuldeep Bishnoi held a roadshow in Hisar to seek votes for his son, Bhavya Bishnoi, who is Congress’ candidate from Hisar parliamentary seat. Kuldeep was accompanied by former Minister Savitri Jindal and former MP Pt Ramji Lal. Addressing the gathering, Kuldeep said that his father and former Chief Minister Ch. Bhajan Lal had laid the foundation of development of Hissar parliamentary constituency which has proved a mile stone. Universities, Auto Market, Hospitals, research centre, Railway over bridges, schools have been constructed here, he said while exhorting the people to vote for Bhavya to ensure development of Hisar.