Election expenses to be monitored by EMC: Quraishi-CEC

Chief Election Commissioner, S.Y. Quraishi has said that expenditure monitoring committees manned by senior Income Tax Officials will be set up to monitor expenditure incurred by candidates during coming Assembly elections in the five states. Addressing media persons at Chandigarh on Tuesday he also said that district media committees will also be established to keep a check on paid news. Chief Election Commissioner along with Election Commissioners V.S. Sampath and M.S. Brahama took an assessment of election preparations for assembly elections in Punjab, which are due in February next year. Election Commission team discussed matters relating to elections in separate meetings with senior officers of Punjab Government, Divisional commissioners, Deputy Commissioners of all districts and Director General of Punjab Police. Representatives of five political parties also met Election Commission team in separate meetings and apprised about the situation in Punjab.Dr. Quraishi asked the state government to complete the process of transfers of officers in a short time and no officer linked with the poll process should be posted in its home district and officers posted for more than three years at one place should also be shifted. He also directed the Punjab government to fill up vacancies of Returning officers and Assistant Returning Officers immediately. Chief Secretary
of Punjab assured the Election Commission that all such vacancies will be filled up with in one month. Chief Election Commissioner also directed the state government not to associate any retired officer who is now reemployed with any task relating to election process. Chief election Commissioner expressed satisfaction on the preparations made by the Chief Electoral Officer of the state. He said that all voters will be issued photo identity cards by the end of October this year and voter lists with photo cards will also be ready
by that time. He said that from mow onwards voter slips will be issued by Election Commission at booth level as now photo of each voter is there on the voter list. Dr. Quraishi said that Election Commission is starting a campaign for ethical voting. He assured free and fair elections in the state.