Officials Told To Ensure Transparency In MPP Polls, Curb Spending
Suseela said presiding officers should familiarise themselves with their responsibilities and remain alert throughout the election process.
Vijayawada:NTR district administration is preparing for indirect elections to mandal praja parishads (MPPs) and the first phase of the second ordinary gram panchayat polls.
Addressing a training programme for presiding officers and mandal parishad development officers at the Zilla Parishad meeting hall in Vijayawada on Thursday, NTR district ZP CEO P. Suseela instructed presiding officers to conduct elections to co-opted MPP members and MPP presidents and vice-presidents in accordance with the prescribed procedures.
Suseela said presiding officers should familiarise themselves with their responsibilities and remain alert throughout the election process. She explained the procedures for issuing election notices, ensuring quorum, receiving and scrutinising nominations, withdrawals, polling, and counting of votes.
The training covered the procedure for deciding results through a lottery in the event of a tie, authentication of political party candidates, issuance and enforcement of party whips, conduct of election meetings, declaration of results, and maintenance of records.
The ZP CEO directed officials to maintain neutrality, avoid procedural lapses, and complete the elections within the stipulated schedule.
On the day, NTR district election expenditure observer B. Vijaya Kumar participated in a virtual meeting convened by the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission to review preparations for the first phase of gram panchayat elections.
The commission reviewed election arrangements, operational guidelines, and the responsibilities of expenditure observers. Officials have been instructed to monitor candidates' spending and ensure that it remains within the prescribed limits.
Observers have been asked to maintain candidate-wise expenditure registers and shadow registers. They must ensure that expenditure statements are submitted within the stipulated deadlines.
The commission called for deployment of flying squads, static surveillance teams, and video surveillance teams to prevent distribution of cash, liquor, gifts, and other inducements to voters.
Officials have been directed to take action against violations of the Model Code of Conduct and scrutinise permissions for election meetings, rallies, campaign vehicles, and publicity material.
The election expenditure observer said all necessary measures would be taken to ensure peaceful, free, and fair gram panchayat elections in NTR district.