Officials Step Up Vigil To Ensure Free And Fair Local Body Elections
Officials in Nellore and Chittoor have intensified surveillance, enforced election rules and strengthened security to prevent violations and ensure impartial local body polls.
Nellore District Collector and Election Officer Himanshu Shukla has directed officials to strictly enforce the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) to ensure free, fair and transparent local body elections. Chittoor Collector Sumit Kumar and SP Tushar Dudi have also stressed impartial polling and robust security arrangements.
Shukla inspected the 24-hour election control room set up at the Nellore Collectorate and reviewed the functioning of special teams monitoring MCC violations, election expenditure, complaints and political advertisements. He said the public could report election-related complaints and seek information through helpline 0861-2331261.
He directed flying squads, static surveillance teams, expenditure-monitoring units and the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) to discharge their duties effectively. Political advertisements must obtain prior certification from the MCMC as prescribed under election rules. Officials were also instructed to monitor the illegal distribution of cash, gifts and other inducements.
Meanwhile, at a meeting at the Pulicherla MRO office in Chittoor district, Collector Sumit Kumar directed election officials to follow the rules meticulously at every stage, from the filing and scrutiny of nominations to polling, counting and declaration of results.
He emphasised that government employees must remain politically neutral and must not campaign for or against any candidate or party.
SP Tushar Dudi said additional police personnel, continuous surveillance and preventive security measures were being arranged at nomination centres. He warned that threats to candidates, voter intimidation, inducements and attempts to create tension would invite strict legal action.
Officials in both districts stressed the need for interdepartmental coordination and urged the public to report violations to ensure peaceful elections.
