Port Blair, March 18: The District Election machinery under South Andaman has already kick started the election tasks towards conduct of General Elections-2024 on 16/03/2024 soon after the announcement of Election schedules by the Commission in a free, fair and transparent manner.
In order to create awareness of the latest instructions of the Commission, Shri Arjun Sharma, IAS, District Election Officer, South Andaman has conducted many meetings with the key stakeholders on 18/03/2024 as per the requirements of the Election Commission of India by inviting the Press and Print media persons, Printing press owners and the Political parties.
The briefing meeting commenced initially with the Press and Print media which was also attended by Ms Niharika Bhatt, IPS, Superintendent of Police (D), South Andaman District. During the onset of the meeting, the District Election Officer (SA) has informed the Press and Media representatives on the main aspect towards convening the meeting. He informed that on announcement of the Election schedules for General Elections-2024 by the Commission, the Model code of Conduct came into force, thus the leading role of Press and Media is a prerequisite need for conduct of General Elections in a free, fair and transparent manner. The District Election Officer (SA) has explained in detail, by featuring the main aspects towards application of Model Code of Conduct during conduct of Elections and requested the Press and Media persons to be on vigil and assist the District Office in smooth conduct of election. The Superintendent of Police (D), South Andaman who was also present has explained the role/deployment of security persons to ensure smooth conduct of General Elections and informed that adequate Law and Order arrangements have been done to obviate any untoward Law and order like situation.
Furthermore, while welcoming the owners of Printing press, the District Election Officer (SA) has stated that upon enforcement of Model Conduct of Conduct, the Commission has laid down particular guidelines for stricter compliance as per the very requirement of section 127-A of the Representatives of Peoples, Act, 1951 which denotes the restrictions on the printing of pamphlets, posters during conduct of Elections by the Candidates/Political Parties. He also explained the available penal provisions envisaged under the relevant sections and appealed to ensure level playing field during conduct of elections. Moreover, he also clarified the doubts and apprehensions as raised by the individual participants.
Lastly, meeting with the Political parties was convened, wherein all the representatives of respective parties have actively participated. The District Election Officer (SA) has informed the representatives of political parties on Commission’s various Instructions upon enforcement of the Model code of Conduct and Election Expenditure & its Monitoring and appealed for strict adherence of the instructions of the Commission in a befitting manner to achieve the very level playing field aspect for hassle-free conduct of the General Elections-2024 in this Parliamentary Constituency. During the meeting the participants have raised many individual doubts which were patiently heard, adequate response to individual queries were given and also clarified the apprehensions as noted by the members of the Political parties.