CHANDIGARH: Reviewing the election preparedness of the state for ensuing Assembly Elections scheduled to be held on February 20, 2022, Election Commission of India’s (ECI) three Special Observers on Friday expressed satisfaction and confidence that the forthcoming polls would be held in a free, fair and transparent manner.
Special General Observer Vinod Zutshi, Special Police Observer Rajni Kant Mishra and Special Expenditure Observer Ms. Himlani Kashyap were holding a review meeting with the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Punjab Dr S Karuna Raju at his office here. Additional CEO Amit Kumar, ADGP-cum-State Police Nodal Officer (SPNO) Ishwar Singh, IG CRPF-cum- Nodal Officer for CAPF Mool Chand Panwar also attended the meeting.
Special Observers took stock of overall poll preparedness including COVID-19 preparedness, Staff preparedness, SVEEP activities, Critical and Vulnerable Polling Booths and adequate availability of EVMs.
Emphasizing the need to ensure fool proof security measures at all booths across the state, Special Observers also reviewed the total seizure of cash, liquor, opiods, arms and ammunition during the code period.
During the meeting, CEO Dr S Karuna Raju apprised the Special Observers regarding the arrangements being made at all polling booths, training of polling personnel, webcasting of booths, C-vigil App, Suvidha App, NGSP and monitoring of print, electronic and social media.
The CEO also assured that in view of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, all the COVID-19 guidelines will be followed. He also informed that 100 percent of the staff to be deputed on Poll duty would be fully vaccinated. He said that fool proof arrangements are being made for the disposal plan of COVID Bio-Medical waste.
He also informed the meeting that 97.81 percent of licensed arms had been deposited.
Meanwhile, Special Observers also took a round of the State Control Room from where all 117 Assembly Constituencies are monitored on a real time basis through Flying Squad Teams (Fists) using full HD camera mounted vehicles.