Take strict action against criminal elements: Chief Electoral Officer Shri Anupam Rajan

Increase voter awareness activities to Elevate voting Turnout Review of Election preparations for Gwalior and Chambal divisions

The Election Commission of India is closely monitoring the Lok Sabha elections in the Gwalior-Chambal division, ensuring they are conducted with utmost integrity and peace. Chief Electoral Officer of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Anupam Rajan, directed Collectors and Superintendents of Police in a review meeting to take strict measures, including the use of NSA and Zilabadar against criminal elements. This aims to uphold voter confidence and enable them to cast their votes without fear. Special emphasis was placed on enhancing voter awareness at every polling station to boost voter turnout. The meeting, held at Tansen Residency in Gwalior, was attended by key officials including Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Shri Anshuman Singh, Joint Chief Electoral Officer Shri Vivek Shrotriya, and Commissioners from Gwalior and Chambal. Additionally, Gwalior Collector and District Election Officer Smt. Ruchika Chauhan, along with other district Collectors and Superintendents of Police, participated in the discussions.

Chief Electoral Officer Shri Anupam Rajan emphasized the need for continuous surveillance at inter-state and inter-district checkpoints, ensuring 24-hour monitoring. He stressed the seizure of illegal money, liquor, drugs, weapons, and objectionable materials, with strict actions against those involved in such activities. Shri Rajan highlighted the importance of expediting bound over actions and strictly adhering to the Zilabadar order, urging the Special Surveillance Teams (SST), Flying Squads (FST), and Video Surveillance Teams (VST) to operate with utmost vigilance. Additional security arrangements were directed for polling stations in vulnerable areas, along with deploying extra security forces in buildings housing five or more polling stations. Furthermore, Shri Rajan instructed the deployment of additional polling personnel in stations with high voter turnout to ensure smooth voting processes.

Inspector General of Police, Law and Order, Shri Anshuman Singh told all the Superintendents of Police that action against anti-social elements should be such that it instills fear among criminals and confidence among voters.

Commissioner Gwalior Dr. Sudam Khade informed that inter-state border meetings have been held with the officials of the border states. Keeping in mind the summer season, adequate arrangements for drinking water are being made at every polling station in all the districts of the division. The work of putting up related boards/banners at a distance of 100 meters from the polling station will be done as a campaign. He said that planned activities are being organized under SVEEP in the division to increase the voting percentage.

Commissioner Chambal Division Shri Sanjeev Kumar Jha stressed on prompt action on the voting day. DIG Chambal Shri Kumar Saurabh said that special attention should be paid to ensure that the rounds (cartridges) available with the arms licensees deposited in the police stations are not misused. He suggested all the Superintendents of Police to monitor this.

Collector Gwalior Smt. Ruchika Chauhan along with District Collectors and Superintendents of Police of both the divisions apprised about the election preparations and SVEEP activities of their respective districts. The Chief Electoral Officer appreciated the ongoing voter awareness activities in Gwalior district.

Emphasis on proper monitoring of web casting

Chief Electoral Officer Shri Anupam Rajan said that CCTV cameras should be installed both inside and outside the critical (sensitive and hypersensitive) polling stations to keep an eye on elements who might obstruct the voting. Make strict arrangements for monitoring the web casting done by these cameras, so that if any kind of unwanted activity is seen at any polling station, immediate action can be taken.

To Launch ‘Chalo Booth ki Ore’ campaign

To increase the voting turnout, Chief Electoral Officer Shri Anupam Rajan laid special emphasis on conducting voter awareness activities on a large scale up at every polling station level. He said that for this, “Chalo booth ki ore” campaign should be launched. The message should reach every house in the settlements connected to each polling station that everyone must use their franchise on May 7. All District Election Officers should form local teams for each polling station to go door-to-door to motivate voters to cast their votes. Even on the voting day, take the support of this team and call people to vote.

Create more and more ideal polling stations

Chief Electoral Officer Shri Rajan said that maximum number of model polling centers should be established in all the districts as well as rural areas, and especially in the urban areas. The facilities of these centers should be such that more and more voters are motivated to cast their votes. Voters should be welcomed with welcome drinks. Wherever there is a queue, there should be good arrangement for shade. Keeping in mind the summer season, additional arrangements for drinking water should also be made at each polling station.

Provide information to the candidates about the houses where voting is to be held along with the route chart

Chief Electoral Officer Shri Anupam Rajan directed that information about the route chart of the houses of elderly voters above 85 years of age and voters with more than 40 percent disability, who have given consent to vote from home in Form-12D, must be given to all candidates. They should also be told on which date they have to cast their votes. Shri Rajan said that all the ballot papers for home voting should be kept in double lock in the treasury as per the guidelines of the Election Commission of India. Also take it to the strong room on the scheduled date. This action should be taken in the presence of the candidates or their authorized representatives.

Keep a special eye on the distribution of voter information slips

Chief Electoral Officer Shri Rajan said that distribution of voter information slips is very important for increasing voting percentage. Therefore, do not depend only on BLOs for distribution of voter lists. Distribution of slips must be monitored specially and it must be ensured that these slips reach 100 percent of the voters.