PUDUCHERRY: The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) on Thursday praised the ongoing preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections in the Union Territory on Thursday, but expressed a need for greater prevention measures for distributing freebies in Puducherry. “There is need for more preventive action and enforcement against distribution of money, liquor and gifts has to be stepped up,” said CEC Nasim Zaidi.
Briefing newspersons, shortly after reviewing poll arrangements in the Union Territory, he said that the work done by the Election Department was satisfactory.
According to him, the number of flying squads would be increased to check the flow of money, liquor and gifts into the electorate. He said that flying squads would get GPS-fitted vehicles to keep a tab on their activities. Zaidi added that banks had been directed to intimate all high volume withdrawals and transfers of money to the commission.
The Election Department has so far identified 132 vulnerable villages, where weaker sections are living. There are around 19,000 people, who are likely to be intimidated. The commission has directed the District Electoral Officers (DEOs) and police to review and identify other villages that could be categorised accordingly.