Nagaland
Money power should not influence voters – Suboth Singh
The expenditure observer for Dimapur I, II, and III assembly constituencies, Suboth Singh, appointed by the Election Commission of India, categorically stated that money power should not find any space for influencing voters during the ensuing general elections to the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly.
He made this remark during a meeting with Dimapur district magistrates of FST and SST, officer in charge of VST, VVT, and nodal officer of MCMC, held in the conference hall of the deputy commissioner and district election office of Dimapur on January 31.
Singh has enquired from the magistrates and nodal officers about their ongoing activities undertaken thus far and advised them with inputs on how to go about to ensure free and fair elections without any inducement and prejudices.
Singh also cleared queries of the nodal officers/ magistrates by explaining all the legal provisions and instructions of the Election Commission relating to expenditure and monitoring issues.
Terming election as the festival of democracy, Singh urged upon the officers for creating an ecosystem by enabling voters to come and cast their vote with free conscience without money power.
“Allow democracy to be vibrant without any bias and prejudice which should be our target,” Singh said.
Sharing his official number 7005155223, which has been allotted to him by the ECI, Singh informed the nodal officers and voters to contact him freely anytime even at night for any doubts/clarifications.
In the meeting, DC and DEO of Dimapur, Commissioner of Police, and RO of Dimapur shared insights in order to enable different teams work collectively with clarity and seriousness and ensure fair and peaceful elections.
Meanwhile, the special expenditure observer for the general election to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly 2023, BR Balakhrishnan along with Nagaland Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), V Shashank Shekhar, and state police nodal officer held a video conference with the central and state enforcement agencies, police, income tax, CGST, DRI, state taxes, NCB, ED, CISF, RPF, Assam Rifles, banks, airport and forest officials at the CEO’s office on Wednesday.
In the meeting, the special expenditure observer apprised on the various agencies to work hard to curb the use of money power and other forms of inducements for holding a free and fair election. He also took reports from the various agencies particularly on the seizures made after the announcement of the election and urged on them to give their best in maintaining law and order.
Election observers hold meeting
The expenditure observers for 9 Kohima town AC, 10 Northern Angami-I AC and 11 Northern Angami-II AC, Samatha Muliamudi and election observer for 8 Western Angami AC, 14 Southern Angami-I and 15 Southern Angami-II AC, Suraj Bhan Garhwal, held a meeting with all the election personnel in the conference hall of the deputy commissioner’s office in Kohima on Wednesday.
Speaking at the meeting, the observers took stock of the first hand information on the status of the ongoing assigned works from various teams under EEM cells. They also emphasised on the roles and responsibilities of various teams and asked them to take their assigned job seriously, stated a DIPR report.
The observers have sought cooperation for smooth conduct of the election process in the district.
The deputy commissioner and district election officer of Kohima, Shanavas C, gave an overview of the constitution of various teams under EEM cell as per the ECI guidelines, number of personnel involved in various capacities. He also briefed on the ongoing job of various teams since the announcement of the election.
In a related programme, the election observer assigned for 7 Peren and 6 Tening assembly constituencies, Dayanandan T, held an interaction with various team members of election expenditure monitoring (EEM) in the office of ADC in Peren town on Wednesday.
In the meeting, Dayanandan has highlighted the main role of EEM to ensure the conduct of election in a free and fair manner. He also advised all the team members to work in close coordination and carry out their assigned tasks responsibly.
The meeting was attended by the deputy commissioner and district election officer and the superintendent of police, Peren.
In another programme, the expenditure observer for 16 Pfutsero assembly constituency, Ajay Dhoke, held a meeting with Pfutsero district assistant expenditure observer, accounting team, magistrate of static surveillance team, magistrate of flying squads, video viewing team, and video surveillance team on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the election expenditure monitoring team comprising Vaibhav Chandrakant Ghalme and Shyan Narayan Kumar held a meeting in the office of the deputy commissioner of Tseminyu on Wednesday.
A DIPR report stated that members of FST and SST, team leader of video surveillance team and VV team, nodal officer of accounting team, assistant expenditure observer and members of media monitoring and certificate committee (MCC) attended the meeting.
The meeting was chaired by the deputy commissioner and district election officer of Tseminyu, Dr. Zasekuolie Chusi.