The nomination process has begun for the Kovur by-election, following the issue of election notification formally on Wednesday. Nominations will continue till February 29.

The Election Commission has posted Mr Lakshmi Narayana, deputy commissioner, Income Tax wing, Chennai, as expenditure observer for the Kovur by-election. District collector B. Sreedhar revealed this while speaking to this newspaper on Wednesday.

The collector said that a media committee meant to keep a tab on paid articles has been formed with joint collector Saurabh Gaur as head of the committee.

Mr B. Srinivasa Rao from the print media and Mr S.K. Ghouse from the electronic media have been made media representatives in the committee.

According to Mr Sreedhar, Kavali revenue divisional officer Subramanyam Reddy will assist the ZP CEO and returning officer T. Veerabhadra Rao in the election process.

"All activities related to the election will be handled by the returning officer and we will only provide assistance wherever necessary," the collector said.

Polling staff were being identified for appointment and letters were prepared to call them for a training programme, he noted.

He said that they will spare lecturers from election duty since Intermediate exams will be in progress at the time of the elections on March 18.