Election Observers update political parties about ECI regulations at Poonch

POONCH, SEPTEMBER 10: The General, Police, and Expenditure Observers for the Haveli, Surankote and Mendhar Assembly Constituencies convened a significant meeting today with representatives from various political parties at Dak Bungalow, Poonch. The focus was ensuring adherence to the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and addressing critical matters ahead of the Assembly Elections 2024.

The General Election Observer for Haveli and Surankote, Solai Bharathi Dasan, Expenditure Observer Bharat Ramchandra Andhale, along with Police Observer Rohan Kanay and General Election Observer for Mendhar, Siddhartha Das reiterated the importance of abiding by the MCC. The representatives of the political parties were given hard copies of the MCC and were asked to follow the guidelines of the Election Commission of India during canvassing.

The Observers emphasized that these guidelines are crucial for ethical campaigning and ensuring the electoral process remains free and fair.

During the meeting, logistical and security measures were thoroughly discussed. The District Election Officer Poonch, Vikas Kundal, assured the political representatives that all necessary measures are in place for the safe and efficient transport of polling parties, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units. He further highlighted that special security arrangements are in place to secure critical polling stations, ensuring a smooth electoral process.

The representatives of the political parties assured the officials of their cooperation with the election authorities and pledged to follow the MCC guidelines.

They also assured the observers of their commitment to ethically conducting their campaigns, contributing to a peaceful and transparent election process.

The meeting was also attended by ADC Poonch Tahir Mustafa Malik, SDM Mendhar, SDM Surankote, Deputy DEO, Returning officers for the three assembly constituencies and other concerned.