Mysore/Mysuru: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dr. K.V. Rajendra, who is also the District Electoral officer, said that the district administration is fully prepared for holding free and fair Lok Sabha polls from Mysuru-Kodagu Lok Sabha Constituency, which is scheduled to take place on Apr. 26.

He was addressing a press meet at the ZP hall here yesterday after the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the 2024 Lok Sabha poll schedule.

Pointing out that all facilities will be provided at polling booths, Dr. Rajendra said ‘Sakhi booths,’ Youth voters’ booths, Specially abled booths, Ethnic booths and other theme based booths will be  set up to ensure maximum voter participation in the polls.

Noting that during the first-level check, 5,870 ballot units, 4,146 control units and 4,433 VVPATs have been found to be functional, he said that 291 units of each of them have been distributed to the Assistant Commissioner for conducting training and awareness. The remaining 5,579 ballot units, 3,855 control units and 4,142 VVPATs remain in custody of the district administration, he added.

Continuing, Dr. Rajendra said as per the instructions of the Election Commission, 641 Central Government officers and other staff will be appointed as Micro-observers for select sensitive booths. This apart, as many as 17,550 personnel will be appointed as Booth officers, Assistant Booth officers and Presiding officers, he said. Explaining the measures taken for overseeing poll expenditure by candidates, the DC said that 241 Sectoral officers, 50 Flying Squads, 42 Static Surveillance teams, 23 Video Surveillance teams, 12 Video Viewing teams, 11 Accounting teams and 15 Assistant Expenditure Observers have been deployed for the purpose.

This apart, several cells and committees have been formed. These include District Model Code of Conduct Cell, Expenditure Monitoring Cell, Media Certification and Monitoring Committee, Pre-Media Certification and Inspection team, Complaints Monitoring Cell and Grievances Committee, he said adding that  members of the public can file online complaints through c-VIGIL App, if they come across any Model Code of Conduct violations.

The DC further said that elderly voters aged over 85 years, will be given the opportunity to exercise their franchise through Postal Ballots. Such voters have to submit Form 12 within 5 days of the commencement of nominations. Dr. Rajendra also said that  electoral posters and all other poll graffiti should carry the name of the printer and it is mandatory to get prior certification before printing any poll related advertisements.

Underlining the importance of co-operation by political parties in the smooth conduct of polls, the DC said that all political parties and candidates should strictly comply with the Model Code of Conduct and should follow rules and regulations of the ECI.

City Police Commissioner B. Ramesh, SP Seema Latkar, ZP CEO K.M. Gayathri and  ADC P. Shivaraju were present.