Chief Secretary reviewes Election Arrangement

Shimla, May 5 (UNI) The Home Department, the Director General of Police and the District Administration will make an extensive review of law and order situation for the Lok Sabha Bye Election-2008 in 4-Hamirpur Parliamentary Constituency scheduled for May 22, 2008.

This was disclosed by Mr Ravi Dhingra, Chief Secretary here today while presiding over the meeting to review the preparedness of the Government for the ensuing elections in the 17 Assembly Constituencies of Hamirpur Parliamentary Constituency.

He said that 1373 polling stations has been set up in Hamirpur Parliamentary Constituency(PS), which includes one Auxiliary PS. He said that one company of CPMF will be deployed for guarding polled Electronic Voting Machines and election material.

He directed the authorities to ensure proper and timely training of Police/ Security Personnel deployed for election duties. He also directed Police and Excise and Taxation Department to take joint preventive measures to ensure free fair and peaceful polling.

Chief Secretary directed the HRTC Authorities to make available road worthy buses for transportation of polling parties to and fro polling stations as per movement programme framed by District Election Officers (DCs) Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Una and Kangra. Public Works Department will ensure all roads operational from the date of movement of polling parties till their back arrival, he added.

Chief Secretary said that Media Centres at State Headquarters/ District Headquarters would be set up by the department of Information and Public Relations.

Chief Electoral Officer, Himachal Pradesh informed that the Certification Committee has been formed as per the directions of Hon'ble Supreme Court and Election Commission of India. Chief Secretary also directed the DIPR to monitor and track all electronic media ads and give feedback to election department on a daily basis.

Mrs Manisha Nanda, Chief Electoral Officer said that elaborate arrangements have been made so that free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections could be delivered. She said that Electors Awareness Campaign would be launched in the State to aware the masses about their voting rights, She said that radio advertisements, slogans etc. will be broadcast in public interest by the State Election Department.

Arrangements made by various departments i.e. Home, PWD, GAD, Personnel, Education, Excise and Taxation, HRTC, M.P.P. and Power Revenue, Rural Development were reviewed in the meeting.

Senior officers of the State Government also attended the meeting.

UNI AS HS BP2001