Orientation workshop for political parties held in T'gana

Addressing a one-day orientation workshop for political parties, Telangana Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar appealed to them to follow the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in the run up to the Lok Sabha elections. The election will be held on April 11 in the state.

Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar Wednesday appealed to political parties to follow the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in the run up to the Lok Sabha elections to be held on April 11 in the state.

Addressing a one-day orientation workshop for political parties in Telangana on the aspects of the electoral process, he highlighted the enormous efforts undertaken by the Election Commission to ensure the successful conduct of the polls.

Kumar said suggestions and recommendations submitted during the discussions would be given due consideration, an official release said.

The CEO pointed out that the chief aim of the exercise, organised during the period of filing nominations, was to provide much needed clarity regarding various aspects of the electoral process, including the guidelines mandated by the EC.

The workshop was divided into five sections EVM-VVPATS, IT initiatives such as Suvidha and C-Vigil, law and order measures by the police, initiatives by the excise department to tighten monitoring on the sale of liquor and an explanation of the nomination process.

Each section involved a question-and-answer session where the doubts expressed by political representatives were clarified after adequate discussion.

Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Jitender explained the measures to ensure security of the candidates and general law and order situation at every level starting from the polling booth.

Principal Secretary, Excise, Somesh Kumar pointed out the various initiatives to monitor the sale and consumption of liquor that included installing CCTV cameras at breweries and wine-shops, regular inspection and increased inter-border coordination.

A total of 340 mobile teams, 14 mobile patrols, 19 check posts among other measures were in place to check flow of liquor into the state, he added.