SHILLONG, Jan 28: A team of senior Special Observers deputed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) comprising of Special General Observer, Y Tripathi, Special Police Observer, V Johri, and Special Expenditure Observer, B Murli Kumar, visited the state to review the electoral preparedness in connection with the ensuing elections to the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.
A detailed review was held with the CEO, the State Police Nodal Officer in the presence of the Chief Secretary and the DGP on January 27.
This was followed by the State level review on aspects related to Election Expenditure Monitoring of both Central and State enforcement agencies who were represented by their respective Nodal Officers comprising of agencies such as Income Tax, CGST, ED, NCB, DRI, CBIC, SLBC, RBI, Airport Director and State Police, Excise, Forest, and State GST Commissioners.
On January 28, the Special General Observer also reviewed the electoral preparedness of DCs, SPS and Nodal Officers Election Expenditure Management in all 12 districts of the State.
The Special Observer was impressed on the entire State and Central election machineries to ensure a level playing field for all political parties and simultaneously also instructed strict adherence to Election Commission – timelines in respect of various critical activities of the electoral cycle.
They also reviewed arrangements pertaining to logistics and Assured Minimum Facilities (AMFs) besides Law and Order arrangements and active deployment of CAPF with a view to instil confidence in the hearts and minds of the voters.
On the expenditure side, the Special Expenditure Observer stressed on requirement for proper coordination amongst various enforcement agencies, activize the number of FST & SST deployed, generate enhanced awareness of C-Vigil and Toll Free number, coordination mechanism with BSF in International border, FST vehicles to be equipped with GPS tracking, and all LBMs to ensure that all Banks are to submit daily reports on suspicious transactions to DEO and Income Tax, etc.
