District Administration will ensure free and fair Assembly polls with complete transparency : Sandeep Hans

Patiala: Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer, Sh. Sandeep Hans assured of conducting the Assembly polls in a free and fair manner with complete transparency. In a meeting with the local media persons in the District Administrative Complex, Sh. Sandeep Hans informed that complete Covid protocol will be strictly followed during polls to ensure the safety of the general public. He informed that the district administration is genuinely concerned with applying the Model Code of Conduct and any complaints received are addressed and resolved with immediate effect. Additional Deputy Commissioner (G) S. Gurpreet Singh Thind was present with the DC.Answering the query of media persons, Sh. Sandeep Hans informed that more than 12000 officials have been deployed for polling duties and arrangements have been made to adequately train them for the same. He informed that the entire polling staff has been fully vaccinated.

District Election Officer said that the prospective candidates for contesting elections as well as all the political parties have been sensitized about the negative trend of Paid news and advised them to refrain from it because such trends are harmful for democratic process as per the Supreme Court and Election Commission as it harms the right to information of the general public.He also appealed to the media to refrain from paid news circulation as MCMC (Media Certification and Monitoring Committee) at the district as well as State level in Chandigarh has been established to monitor the news and advertisements given by Contesting candidates and their supporters in the newspapers, social media accounts and all electronic media.Sh. Sandeep Hans said that Patiala police is fully deployed to maintain peace in the district and they have set up inter-district and inter-state barriers for surveillance.

Two companies of the ITBP and One company of SF have already reached Patiala and other required forces will be deployed soon. He said that orders regarding deposition of licensed arms of the general public are already in place.The Deputy Commissioner has asked the media to inform the general public that they can register complaints regarding the violation of Model Code of Conduct on helpline number 1950 as well as on e-vigil app. He said that SVEEP is leaving no stone unturned in registering all eligible voters so that every voter is able to exercise his or her right to vote.Sh. Sandeep Hans also informed that special arrangements have been made to ensure that this time all covid positive voters as well as voters above the age of 80 years and also persons with disabilities and the transgenders are able to cast their votes. He said that wheelchairs and assistants have been provided at all polling booths for the physically handicapped and senior citizens.