Final meeting between administration and candidates in West

GYALSHING, 31 Mar [IPR]: A final meeting with contesting candidates of West District was held today at the Conference Hall, DAC, Rabdentse in the presence of the Expenditure Observer,Rupender Brar, Returning Officer(W), Sr. SP(W), ADM(W) and Nodal Officer, Expenditure & Monitoring Committee.

The meeting started with the ADM(W) giving details of the mechanisms and machineries involved in the election process in the West District. He highlighted about the roles of the flying squads, control rooms at different areas and how concerned authorities can be reached by members of different political parties.

Sr. SP(W), DBGiri said that West District has remained peaceful throughout and he applauded the candidates contesting for conducting themselves as responsible citizens and for keeping the law above everything else. He was pleased to inform that no violation of code of conduct has so far been reported. Mr Giri assured that police deployment at all sensitive areas has been guaranteed and he was certain that the upcoming election would go peacefully.

Nodal Officer, Expenditure & Monitoring Committee, CNSherpa then elaborately explained to the contesting candidates or their representatives on expenditure related issues, maintenance of registers and account records failing which their candidature would stand cancelled.

Expenditure Observer, Rupender Brar,then explained the expenditure rules according to the Election Commission of India guidelines. She said that records should be properly and correctly maintained failing which the Commission would issue notice to the candidate. It was informs that 04 and 08 April were the dates where accounts of individual candidates would be checked and verified.

Returning Officer(W), Tshewang Gyatso then highlighted that on 05 and 07 April, Presiding and Polling officers would be imparted training at Soreng Training Hall and Gyalshing Community Hall. Casting of the postal ballotby the Presiding and Polling officers are also fixed on the same dates at the mentioned venue. EVMs would be shifted to Strong Room,Kyongsa on 05 April and Machine commission(Sealing of EVM) is scheduled on 06, 07and 08 of April. Any agent of a political party who wishes to verify the transparency and technicalities are welcome to do so.

Mr Gyatso further explained that 51 polling booths have been named critical in West District and micro-observers from Government of India would be placed there. He further informed that from 48 hours prior to polling day, there should be no political flag, no political help desk and party office within the radius of 200 mts from the Polling stations. 

The meeting ended with an open discussion by members of various political parties.