Imphal, Jan 31: Election officials have seized items/materials worth Rs 6,95,000 from various locations in the poll-bound Manipur state, said Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Vivek Kumar Dewangan.
Speaking to reporters here in Imphal on Tuesday, CEO Dewangan informed that election officials received complaint of distributing GI sheets to residents of four localities under Kshetrigao Constituency in Manipur’s Imphal East district in connection with the upcoming assembly election. Manipur goes to polls on March 4 and 8 next.
Following the complaint, officials seized all the GI sheets as it was clear violation of Model Code of Conduct. In addition, CEO said following a complaint the officials concerned have been asked to find out whether minors are included in the electoral roll in Wanging, Tentha and Heirok under Thoubal district. He told media persons that representatives of political parties were briefed at Conference Hall, Old Secretariat on January 30. A total of 18 representatives belonging to 11 political parties attended the meeting. He also presented Power point presentation covering the following topics – qualification and disqualification for contesting election to State legislative assembly, nomination process, model code of conduct, election expenditure monitoring, Media Certification & Monitoring Committee (MCMC), ECI IT Apps– Samadhan, Suvidha and Sugam during the gathering.
Some of the highlights included that for the first time photographs of candidates will be used in order to avoid confusion among the voters. Election expenditure monitoring teams have been activated following announcement of election schedule.
Altogether there are 118 Flying Squads, 111 Static Surveillance Teams, 59 Video Surveillance Teams, 55 Video Viewing Teams and 59 Accounting Teams. Income Tax Surveillance Team has been activated in all the districts.
Air Intelligence Team has been activated at Imphal, Agartala, Guwahati and Aizawl Airports. 24X7 Control Room is now activated. 20 (Twenty) Expenditure Observers have been appointed by ECI, while 60 Assistant Expenditure Observers have also appointed for 60 Assembly Constituencies.
First training of candidates/their agents will be conducted immediately on the day of scrutiny of nomination in presence of Expenditure Observers to acquaint them with – legal provisions, procedures for filing up the forms and registers and dates of inspection of accounts. Second training of candidates/ agents will be conducted within a week before the final date of submission of accounts in presence of Assistant Expenditure Observes for receiving the accounts, filling up forms of abstract statements of election expenses and affidavits, consequences for failure and other legal provisions.
An Account Reconciliation will be held on 26th day after the date of declaration of results. It is worth to mention that for any query related to the assembly election voters can contact on the following: Whatsapp – 436021798, Toll Free Number – 1950, Email–amadhan.manipur@gmail.com, Facebook Page – Chief Electoral Officer, Manipur, Twitter Account – The CEO Manipur or @ceomanipur, Mobile App – e-Manipur Election. For Income Tax related information or query: 1800-345- 3822 (Toll Free), 8794007400 (Mobile & Whatsapp), 82578611 (Mobile & Whatsapp), 8257865622 (Mobile & Whatsapp) or mail at Manipur.eelctions@incometax.gov.in.