Enforcement agencies, FSTs & SSTs directed to intensify 'nakas' and ensure MCC compliance especially during last 72 hours

Ludhiana, May 21, 2024: For keeping strict vigil across the district and ensure strict compliance of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) especially during the last 72 hours prior to the polling day (June 1), Election observes including the general observers, police observers and expenditures observers, District Election Officer (DEO) Sakshi Sawhney, Commissioner of Police Kuldeep Singh Chahal, SSP Khanna Amneet Kondal, SSP Ludhiana Rural Navneet Singh Bains and other senior officers conducted a meeting with the officials of district administration and police in Bachat Bhawan on Tuesday evening.

General Observer of Ludhiana Parliamentary Constituency Divya Mittal IAS, Police observer Satish Kumar Gajbhiye IAS, Expenditure Observers Pankaj Kumar, IRS, Chetan D Kalamkar, IRS along with election observers of Fatehgarh sahib parliamentary constituency including General Observer Rakesh Shankar IAS, Police Observer Sandeep Gajanan Diwan IPS and expenditure Observer Anand Kumar IRS were present in the meeting and issued necessary directions to the concerned officials.

Nine out of 14 assembly constituencies of Ludhiana district fall under Ludhiana parliamentary constituency, while the remaining five including Khanna, Samrala, Raikot, Sahnewal and Payal fall under Fatehgarh Sahib parliamentary constituency. 

During the meeting, directions were issued to all the enforcement agencies including FSTs, SSTs, excise etc to ensure establishment of hi-tech nakas to keep check in the district, especially during the last 72 hours and every vehicle including light vehicles/lorries should be checked thoroughly.

Commissioner of Police Kuldeep Singh Chahal, SSP Jagraon Navneet Singh Bains, SSP Khanna Amneet Kondal, Assistant Returning Officers of various assembly constituencies among other officials from different departments were present in the meeting.

The Elections Observers and DEO stated that micro-observers would also be deputed in the district to minutely observe the proceedings at every polling booth, ensuring peaceful and transparent polls in the district.

General Observers Divya Mittal, IAS and Rakesh Shankar IAS, and District Election Officer (DEO) Sakshi Sawhney said that the last 72-hour prior to polling day (June 1), which includes last day of campaign period, the last 48 hours non-campaign period and the polling period,  are very crucial. They said that the movement of EVMs would be done under the supervision of CAPF in GPS fitted vehicles and with police escort.

The election observers and DEO also stated that as per the directions issued by Election Commission of India, no person/channel/portal should conduct opinion/exit polls during the last 48 hours. 
  
The Election Observers and DEO said that complaints cells would be properly equipped especially in the last 72 hours as the number of complaints would rise during these hours besides an integrated control centre would also be made functional for keeping close watch on the polling process through webcasting on June 1. They also asked the bank officials to immediately report about bulk withdrawals from bank accounts. Further, additional excise teams were also directed to keep a check on sale or hoarding of liquor in the district.