Collector-cum-District Election Officer (DEO) R Nanthagopal chaired an all-party meeting in connection with the 16th Lok Sabha elections on Thursday at the Collectorate.
District-level office-bearers of parties, including the AIADMK, DMK, PMK, CPI (M), CPI, VCK, DMDK, MDMK and IUML participated in the meeting.
The Collector said disbursing money, liquor and gifts to the voters was banned. Severe action would be taken against the violators. He said the regional director of Municipal administration, Vellore, had been entrusted with the responsibility of monitoring, installation and removal of banners, hoarding and advertisement materials in the Corporation and Municipality limits.Project director of DRDA, PA to Collector (village panchayats) and officials of National Highways and Public Works Department have been engaged in the monitoring process.
The political parties should obtain permission from the Sub-Collector of Tirupattur and Revenue Divisional Officer of Vellore and Ranipet to erect hoardings and banners.
The public and political parties can call 94422 -11640 and 0416 2258898 to lodge complaints or can lodge their complaints by mailing to policevlrelection@gmail.com.
During the meet, representatives of various political parties urged the Collector to remove the pictures of Chief Minister and AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa from Amma Unavagam and Amma Kudineer bottles and stalls. The Collector said the district election branch would take appropriate measures in this regard.
Similarly, in Tiruvannamalai, Collector A Gnanasekaran explained the model code of conduct and rules and regulations to be followed during poll campaigning. The district level functionaries of DMK, communist parties, PMK, VCK and BJP urged the Collector to allow them to conduct election campaigns at Gandhi Statue junction.