Manipur CEO ups drive to check poll expenditure

In connection with the ensuing Assembly election, the chief electoral officer of Manipur and his expenditure monitoring team have taken steps to up the drive to check poll-related costs.

Chief Electoral Officer Vivek Kumar Dewangan informed the media here that the expenditure monitoring team has seized GI sheets.

He said that some individuals were attempting to distribute GI sheets at Kshetrigao AC as part of the election campaign and were pulled up by the election expenditure monitoring team.

So far, the team has seized items worth Rs 6.95 lakh. A huge quantity of gold has also been seized from Guwahati airport.

The CEO informed, "Briefing of 18 representatives of 11 political parties in the state was organised yesterday at the conference hall of Old Secretariat wherein qualification and disqualifications for contesting election, nomination process, model code of conduct and other related topics were presented."

He further said that to make the nomination valid, photograph should be submitted along with other requirements to allow voters identify their respective representative.

Security deposit of Rs.10,000 for general candidates and Rs. 5000 for SC/ST candidates should be made before the RO/ARO or in RBI/ Treasury-no deposit acceptable by cheque or bank draft.

Under the election expenditure monitoring team, there will be 118 flying squads, 111 static surveillance team, 59 assistant expenditure observers, 59 video surveillance team, 55 video viewing team and 59 accounting team, Dewangan informed.

He further stated that apart from these, an income tax surveillance team will be deployed in every district while air intelligence team will be deployed in Imphal, Agartala, Guwahati, Silchar and Aizawl airport.

He said general public can lodge complaint through Public Grievance Redressal System which can be reached via Whatsapp number - 9436021798, toll free number- 1950, email-samadhan.manipur@gmail.com, Twitter account - The CEO Manipur or @ceomanipur, mobile app- e-Manipur Election. The dedicated email address of Income Tax is manipur.elections@incometax.gov.