Hyderabad: Chief Electoral Officer of Telangana, Dr Rajath Kumar today stated that the district officials were instructed to be prepared for Assembly polls.
Talking to newsmen at Secretariat here, Rajath Kumar noted that EVMs and other machinery for the polls are arriving by September 20 and district officials are involved in the process for conducting the Assembly elections. As and when the total arrangements are made the elections will be conducted he said. Recent arrival of the EC team from Delhi has expressed content at the arrangements and process for the elections was speeded up and rectify the problems of electoral rolls and missing names and others, he remarked.
The CEO said that information wing and police wings are involved in the smooth and fair conduct of the polls by providing department wise support for publicity and security. He said that the Election Commission has taken steps for Electoral Rolls updation and acquiring EVM-VVPAT machines which reached Asifabad segment he said. Rajath Kumar also said that they are completing the process of appointing booth level officers for smooth conduct of the polls. Rajath Kumar also clarified that the complete stocks of EVMs and VV-PATs and related material are set to reach all the 32,574 Assembly segments by September 23 and 24.
The EC has pressed in staff to offer training to use these machinery to ensure smooth polling while the political parties will appoint booth level agents he said. The election team will provide four days of training for returning officers and the staff as per schedule. “We will forward the election manifesto and on satisfaction with norms the EC will gives its nod he said. A committee was appointed to look into the issue he added. To a query he said that the committee will take a call on the second phase of rythu bandhu to give Rs 4000 per acre towards investment.
The parties cannot announce sops as per election code of conduct he said. Election related issues are being regularly discussed with Chief Secretary SK Joshi, DGP Mahender Reddy as also directing the Collectors and SPs for smooth and peaceful conduct of the polls. Stating that they are more vigilant on naxalite-infested areas he said that the police force has been put in place for peaceful conduct of the elections. The district officials are asked to file cases if irregularities found among the political parties he said. (NSS)
