Hyderabad: Chief Electoral Officer Vikas Raj has instructed departments to be cautious and follow proper procedures to avoid inconvenience to the public. The increase in complaints about seizures, particularly of cash, liquor, and other freebies, prompted this action.
During a review meeting at the CEO’s office, Vikas Raj emphasized the importance of addressing the complaints. He urged officials on election duty at the district level to hold a meeting of the district grievances committee to discuss the matter. He also instructed them to solve cases promptly by considering all relevant factors. Additionally, he stressed the need for accurate reports that mention the violations and norms under which the seizures occurred.
The CEO further directed that the District Grievance Committee should be widely publicized. He also emphasized the importance of providing proper receipts for every seizure. If a party disagrees with a seizure, they should be clearly informed about where they can appeal. Through a video conference, the CEO assessed the situation with Election Registration Officers (EROs), Returning Officers (ROs), and other senior officials, instructing them to streamline the process and minimize gaps.
DGP Anjani Kumar highlighted the importance of building confidence among voters. Additional DGP (CID) Mahesh Bhagwat suggested conducting flag marches and using drone imaging as measures to build voter confidence.
