CHENNAI: Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Tamil Nadu, Sandeep Saxena, on Wednesday, said that the Election Commission is making every effort to ensure 100 per cent polling in the by-election to the Srirangam Assembly constituency scheduled for February 13.
Addressing the media at the Secretariat, the CEO said the EC will hold special awareness camps for highlighting the importance of voting. Saxena said that generally polling percentages are less in urban areas than rural areas and since most of the Srirangam constituency is urban, the Commission will take steps to ensure all voters vote in the by-election.
The CEO said the EC has appointed senior IPS officer Vinod Kumar as Police Observer while Balkar Singh from Uttar Pradesh will be assuming charge as the General Observer today.
“Police Observers oversee the police deployment plan (including deployment of Central Paramilitary Forces) in the constituency and at the polling stations, ensuring law and order is enforced, seizure of illegal arms, checking illicit liquor, including taking care of all tasks assigned by ECI,” Saxena added.
Responding to a query, the CEO said 31 zonal teams with the help of a flying squad and a video squad will ensure the Model Code of Conduct was being adhered to. Further, the EC has conveyed to the State government that distribution of free sarees, dhotis and the conducting of Amma Thittam camps will not be permitted in the areas falling under the Srirangam Assembly constituency.