Dehradun: Uttarakhand Election Commission will strictly enforce the implementation of the model code conduct in the upcoming local bodies’ elections. The local bodies’ elections are likely to be held in the state in the beginning of the new year. The dates for the elections are still to be announced. The State Election Commission is set to act against those who will take wrong methods to woo voters.
The State Election Commission will deploy expenditure observers for the first time in local bodies’ elections to keep a close eye on the candidates’ expenses. The expenditure observers will go to the constituencies three days ahead of the polling day. They will review the reports of the district returning officers.
Expenditure observers will review candidates’ expenses
They will go to the constituencies concerned a second time 25 days after the declaration of poll results. They will review the expenses of the candidates, besides solving their problems. It will help the candidates to submit reports regarding expenses to the Commission. There is a plan to appoint assistant expenditure observers after issuance of election notification.
Senior executive magistrate to be appointed at nodal officer
According to the Deputy election commissioner Prabhat Kumar Singh, “One senior executive magistrate will be appointed at the district-level. He will submit daily reports to the in-charge officer (expenditure) regarding seizures. Senior police officer, who will be appointed as nodal officer at district level, will also submit his daily report to the in-charge officer (expenditure).”
Nodal officer at police headquarters
At the level of the police headquarters, a nodal officer will be appointed. He will coordinate with all districts and submit his daily report to the Commission. He is also supposed to ensure sudden checking during the election process.
In-charge officer (expenditure) to appointed
In all the local bodies, the State Election Commission is under a plan to appoint an in-charge officer (expenditure). The officers for this task will be selected from either the state finance services or treasury or other services. An account team will be deployed in every local body to help the in-charge officer (expenditure).
Deputy election commissioner Prabhat Kumar Singh said the Commission is developing a software to ensure availability of online live updates of the election results.
