Workshop for officials on MCC for Lok Sabha Elections conducted

Kodagu Deputy Commissioner (DC)Dr Venkat Raja after presiding over a training workshop held on following the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for Lok Sabha Elections at the Zilla Panchayat (ZP) Hall recently at Madikeri and constituted the Election Officers to various teams including FST, SST, VST and directed them to perform the election duty as per the direction of the Election Commission of India (ECI). He informed the officials of various teams should start immediately to conduct the elections in a systematic manner. In this regard, officials should make necessary preparations within their frame of duty, he said.  The DC suggested that as soon as the dates for Lok Sabha elections are announced, advertisements, publications and banners installed in various places including government buildings and public places should be cleared and a report should be submitted. The officials should follow the guidelines of the ECI and advised to work promptly without any room for doubt. DC also said that if the information was not known to them then it should be brought to the attention of the superiors.  Speaking further he said that once the election date is announced, the officials should perform their duties in the constituency assigned to them. If money and liquor are caught at the check posts action should be taken as directed by the Election Commission. DC said that information will be available through C-Vigil app and no one should delay to give information to the district election department in the respective case.    He also instructed officials that care should be taken not to violate the Model Code of Conduct and suggested that elections should be held in a free, peaceful and fearless manner. Speaking on the occasion, Kodagu District Superintendent of Police (SP) K. Ramarajan said that all levels of election officers and police officials who are assigned for the election purposes should work in coordination. SP opined that   since Kodagu have more educated people, elections can be conducted smoothly if proper information is given to the public. It should be ensured that no code of conduct is violated during election period and if any case of violation is found then fine will be imposed as per rules, he added. Additional Deputy commissioner (ADC) B. N Veena informed that neither the political party nor the candidates should not engage in activities that create enmity with each other including caste, community, religion and language.  B N. Veena further said that places of worship like temples, mosques and churches should not be used as a platform for election campaigning and officials should be careful about these facts. No promises should be given to voters. Campaigning should not be done within 100 meters of the polling booth. Development works can be continued before the announcement of elections. The local police should be informed in advance about the place and time of election campaigning and permission must be obtained.  She also said that permission should be obtained for the procession and to use loudspeakers for election campaigning. She further informed that during any processions public movement should not be obstructed and added that the MCC should be strictly followed. Deputy Divisional Officer Vinayak Narvade, FST, SST, VST and other officers assigned to various teams and police officers were present.