The Election Commission has directed all district magistrates and district police chiefs to keep a close vigil on suspicious transactions and movement of cash in their respective districts. The Commission will review security arrangements and start the process of identification of sensitive polling booths after the issue of notification for the first phase of elections in the state on January 17.
Chief Electoral Officer CEO) of UP, T Venkatesh on Friday reviewed poll preparedness in all 75 districts through video conferencing. During this, the CEO discussed progress of implementation of guidelines and directives issued by the Election Commission for conduct of free and fair poll.
The returning officer/district magistrates were asked to ensure that they had adequate number of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) in their resperctive districts before polling.
He said the Commission will review the sensitive polling booths in districts after the issue of notification for the first phase of polling.
Venkatesh said that flying squad in each of 403 Assembly segments have started working and are keeping watch on the expenditure by different parties and their candidates.
The CEO said that district magistrates have been directed to ensure strict compliance of the Model Code of Conduct for the elections. He said that state surveillance team and election observers would soon reach Assembly segments and start their work.
Venkatesh said that a mobile app prepared by Election Commission for monitoring police stations across the state would soon be launched. Through this, the EC could get all relevant information about any police station like number of FIRs lodged and action taken and the number of arrests against non-bailable warrants issued.
ADG (law and order) Daljit Chowdhary said that a state-wide drive has been launched by the police for arrest of all wanted criminals, illegal weapons and liquor. He said that so far over a lakh litres of illicit liquor and a large number of illegal weapons have also been seized.
The top cop said that in each district, social media lab is also keeping watch on social media to prevent the misuse of this medium during the elections.