Ensure error-free polls: CEO
Srinagar, Aug 31: Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Pandurang Kondbarao Pole Saturday issued directions to all the concerned authorities to ensure free, fair, effective, and error-free polls.
During his visit to Verinag in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, the CEO issued directions to all the concerned officials to ensure free, fair, effective, and error-free assembly elections.
He attended the SVEEP programme consisting of cultural skits, singing programmes, and voter’s pledges.
Pole also presented awards for best booth awareness groups on the occasion. He urged the people to vote enthusiastically in the upcoming elections without fear or favour of inducements.
The CEO congratulated the people of Anantnag on the historic turnout in the Lok Sabha polls held earlier this year.
He also flagged off a motorcycle rally to ensure that every eligible voter is informed, motivated, and ready to cast their vote in the elections.
Later, Pole also held a review meeting with the election team of Anantnag headed by Deputy Electoral Officer (DEO) Fakhruddin Hamid, Nodal Officers, Returning Officers (ROs), and Assistant Returning Officers (AROs).
He also visited south Kashmir’s Kulgam district and chaired a comprehensive meeting at the mini-secretariat.
During the meeting, he discussed with the authorities and reviewed election preparations in all three assembly constituencies of Kulgam – 38-Damhal Hanjipora, 39-Kulgam, and 40-Devsar.
The meeting was attended by DEO Kulgam Athar Aamir Khan, SSP Kulgam Sahil Sarangal, ROs, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Kulgam, Deputy District Election Officers (Dy-DEOs), and Nodal Officers.
Discussions covered key aspects of election management, including manpower deployment, EVM transportation, polling staff arrangements, strong room, security protocols, functioning of the control room, and other arrangements for the smooth conduct of elections.
DEO Kulgam provided an overview of the district’s election management plans and informed the CEO that the first randomisation of EVMs had been done.
The ROs also briefed the CEO about the preparations in their assembly constituencies.
Pole was also informed that a 24×7 control room was operational in the district with ongoing Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) activities also going on as per the devised calendar.
The CEO emphasised the continuation of SVEEP initiatives to educate and engage voters effectively and urged for mega plantation drives at all green polling stations.
Security arrangements were also reviewed during the meeting, with the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) briefed on the measures in place to ensure a safe election environment.
Pole stressed the importance of providing adequate facilities at polling stations, including clean washrooms, drinking water, first aid, and proper electricity supply for polling staff and security personnel.
The CEO also inspected distribution-cum-collection centre set up at Government Degree College (GDC) Kulgam to assess the safety, surveillance, and security measures for the election materials and machinery.
He also took a round of the control room and media centre and took stock of their functioning.
In a separate event, Pole presided over a mega SVEEP programme at Altaf Memorial GDC Kilam, aimed at raising awareness about the importance of voting.
The programme witnessed a variety of activities, including folk music and sports activities, all designed to foster voter awareness.
During the programme, students and newly eligible voters actively engaged in a variety of activities, all of which aimed to instil a sense of civic duty and enthusiasm among participants and raise awareness about the significance of voting.
Speaking on the occasion, the CEO said that SVEEP is the flagship initiative focused on voter education, raising voter awareness, and promoting voter literacy.
He urged voters to come out in large numbers and every eligible voter to exercise their right to vote on September 18, 2024.
Speaking on the occasion, DEO Kulgam said that all necessary arrangements were in place to conduct free, fair, and smooth elections in the district.
He also appealed to voters to use their right to vote on September 18, 2024.
Earlier, the CEO, DEO Kulgam, SSP, and DPO ICDS started a special plantation drive at the mini secretariat under ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’.
