Election machinery steps up watch on poll expenses

South Goa district election officer Egna Cleetus holding a meeting in the presence of Election Observers on the Ponda bypoll.

MARGAO
Sending a message that the election machinery means business, South Goa district Electoral Officer, Egna Cleetus, has issued directions to concerned agencies to closely monitor adherence to the prescribed limits by candidates from time to time.

The district Election Officer on Thursday chaired a meeting of the election expenditure monitoring team in the presence of Pooja Parth, IAS, General Observer and Sharayu H Aadhe, IRS, Expenditure Observer, along with representatives of various enforcement agencies.

The SP South, officers from the Income Tax Department, DySP, SDPO-Ponda, officials from the Transport, Customs and Excise Departments, representatives of Lead Bank and SBI, bank managers of Ponda taluka, the Station Fire Officer, and DCF Ponda attended the meeting.

The Observers reviewed the functioning of the Static Surveillance Teams (SST) and Flying Squad Teams (FST). Further, Observer also mentioned that necessary directions be issued to the general public carrying cash or valuable items to keep relevant supporting documents, in order to ensure effective enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

The meeting laid on maintaining transparency in the electoral process by promptly reporting any suspicious or illegal transactions, to ensure the smooth conduct of the by-election to the 21 Ponda Assembly Constituency, scheduled to be held on April 9.

EVM, VVPAT randomisation completed

MARGAO: The first randomisation of FLC-passed EVMs and VVPATs for the April 9 by-election to the 21-Ponda Assembly Constituency was conducted at the Matanhy Saldanha Administrative Complex on Wednesday.

The process, carried out through the Election Commission’s EVM Management System, was held in the presence of representatives from recognised political parties, including the BJP and Congress. Lists of allocated machines were shared with party representatives and will also be provided to others at the district headquarters. The machines have been handed over to the Returning Officer and secured in strong rooms under supervision.