Official expresses satisfaction over election preparations

Deputy Election Commissioner Sudhir Tripathi expressed satisfaction over preparations for Lok Sabha polls in Chhattisgarh and said that efforts are on to ensure "free, fair and safe" polls in the Maoist insurgency-hit state.
"Parliamentary poll preparations are satisfactory," Tripathi told reporters after he took stock of the state's preparations for Lok Sabha polls.
Earlier today, he held separate meetings with the Chief Electoral Officer, representatives of political parties as well as collectors and superintendents of the police of all districts.
"Various changes made in the election process after the recently held Assembly polls were primarily discussed during the meetings," he said.

Discussions included basic minimum facilities at polling stations, postal ballot, change in polling time, as well as single window facilities for political parties to take permission for rallies and campaigns, he said.
Polling time in normal areas where there is no Maoist threat would be from 7 am until 6 pm, he said.

Photocopies of photo voter identity slips have been banned after complaints about its misuse, he said.
Asked about complaints by political parties, he said that all recognised political parties exchanged their experiences about last year's Assembly polls and raised the issue of distribution of liquor and money, two days before polling, seeking effective measures to curb it.

He also informed that Congress party leaders had complained about some officials to the Election Commission.
"Congress leaders complained against some officials citing various previous incidents. I have asked the Chief Election Officer to go through the issues and file a report, after verifying the factual position," Tripathi said, refusing to disclose the names of the officials.