Candidates have to certify every content

by Haryananewswire

CHANDIGARH, MARCH 5

 Haryana Chief Electoral Officer Shrikant Walgad today said that all the contesting candidates would have to get each and every content certified  before posting it on the social  media and would also have to give expenditure details, if any incurred on posting such content which will be added in the expenditure limit prescribed for contesting elections.

          Mr. Walgad, who was addressing a press conference here today, after the announcement of Lok Sabha elections by the Election Commission of India, said that all arrangements have been made for conducting elections in the state. He said that polling for ten seats of parliamentary constituencies in Haryana would be held on April 10, 2014. He said that model code of conduct has been enforced with immediate effect after the announcement of election schedule by the Election Commission of India.

He said that notification of scheduled for Parliamentary Elections in Haryana would be issued on March 15 and last date of filing nominations would be March 22, 2014. Similarly, scrutiny of nominations filed would be carried out on March 24 whereas last date for withdrawal of candidatures would be March 26. The counting of votes would be held on May 16, 2014, he added.

          On being asked about the procedure to be followed for checking the paid news in print as well as on electronic media, Mr. Walgad informed that a monitoring committee has been formed to keep a watch on paid news during elections. In case any news proved to be a paid news as verified by the committee, expenses of such news would be added in the total expenditure limit of the contesting candidate. The expenditure limit of parliamentary elections is Rs.70 lakh. Notice would also be issued to candidates and the Press Council of India would be informed about it, he added.

          Mr. Walgad said that three flying squads in each constituency would supervise the entire process during elections. Flying squad teams would conduct videography of political functions or rallies. The teams would also put nakas on different locations based on information received in this regard. Apart from this, 140 companies of CRPF have been demanded for free and fair elections in the state. He said that 54 CRPF companies have been pressed into service during last parliamentary election held in the year 2009.  Apart from this Haryana Police and Home Guards would also deputed during upcoming election, he added.

          Mr. Walgad said that about 1.5 crore electorate would excise their franchise in these polls. Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) have been issued to all the eligible voters in the state. He said that a special camp would be organized at booth level on March 9 where Booth Level Officers (BLOs) would be available with the list of voters to facilitate them. New voters would be able to get themselves registered on the spot on this day by filling form 6 which would be available with BLOs. The existing voters would also get any error in their details rectified there so that they do not face any difficulty while exercising their right to vote, he added.

          The CEO said that for the first time in Haryana, the option of   None of The Above (NOTA) would be provided in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). However, it would neither be counted nor effect the results. The first level of EVMs checking has already been completed.

          In reply to a question, he said that hyper-sensitive or sensitive booths are being examined at district level. He said that two Awareness Observers have been appointed for the six parliamentary constituencies namely Gurgaon, Faridabad, Rohtak, Sonipat, Karnal and Ambala as the voting percentage was less in these constituencies in last elections. They would observe the awareness campaign launched in these areas so that maximum participation in the elections could be ensured. A pledge for awareness would also be organized on National Women’s Day on March 8, he added.

          Giving details of polling stations, he said that there are 16129 polling stations in the state. Each polling station would either have a micro observer for supervision or web casting or videography would be carried out at each station. All voters would be given photo voter slips through BLOs which would be accepted as an identity proof at polling stations.

          He said that more than 70,000 polling personnel and about 1300 supervisors would be pressed into service for fair conduct of elections. An Assistant Expenditure observer would be deputed in each of  the 90 assembly constituencies of the state and a General Observer would be deputed for each Parliamentary Constituency.