Lok Sabha Polls 2024: General, police and expenditure observers hold meeting with AROs and others

Ludhiana, May 14, 2024: The District Administration Ludhiana has seized around Rs 34.25 crore worth of cash, drugs, liquor, and precious metals since the imposition of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) on March 16. 

The seizures by surveillance teams include cash of Rs. 2.83 crore, followed by drugs worth Rs. 25.35 crore, liquor worth Rs. 3.51 crore, and other items worth 2.54 crore. 

District Election Officer (DEO) Sakshi Sawhney disclosed the same as Election Observers including General Observer Divya Mittal, IAS, Police Observer Satish Kumar Gajbhiye, IPS, Expenditure Observers Pankaj Kumar, IRS, Chetan D Kalamkar, IRS held a meeting with the Assistant Returning Officers (ARO) at Bachat Bhawan on Tuesday.  

Police Commissioner Kuldeep Singh Chahal, ADCs Major Amit Sareen, Anmol Singh Dhaliwal, Rupinder Pal Singh and all AROs were present in the meeting. 

DEO Sakshi Sawhney said that 358 critical polling stations and 458 vulnerable polling stations had been identified in the district for which administration is making elaborate security arrangements to ensure free, fair and transparent polls. She said that the details of these areas had also been shared with armed forces and flag marches were also being carried out to boost the confidence of the voters. 

She said that 28864 posters, hoardings, banners were removed in Ludhiana district including 17243 from public properties and 11621 from private properties had been removed in the district.

The District Election Officer said that the district administration had been keeping a close vigil over the paid news and advertisement content in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls as per the guidelines of the Election Commission of India (ECI). 

Expressing her commitment to ensuring transparent, free, and fair elections in Ludhiana, the District Election Officer said that holding elections peacefully and transparently is the top priority of the administration, and every effort would be made to accomplish this gigantic task without any hindrance. She said that the Lok Sabha elections were one of the biggest exercises in the country wherein every section of society is observing the administration for the efficient conduct of this herculean task. All efforts are also being made to ensure maximum participation of voters and achieve the target of over 70 percent voter turnout (Iss Baar, 70 paar) during the general elections. 

Election Observers including General Observer Divya Mittal, IAS, Police Observer Satish Kumar Gajbhiye, IPS, Expenditure Observers Pankaj Kumar, IRS, Chetan D Kalamkar, IRS gave necessary directions to the AROs to ensure free-fair and peaceful polls. They also expressed satisfaction over the arrangements/efforts done so far.

General Observer Divya Mittal asked the officials that required food arrangements must be ensured for the armed forces, police personnel etc on and before the polling day. 

General Observer Divya Mittal also asked the AROs to ensure proper facilities for the polling parties and voters to save them from heat wave. She also suggested deputing medical staff near the polling stations on the voting and counting days. Further, she also told the officials to take adequate measures for the safety of vulnerable voters.