The Election Commission of India (ECI) team has just completed their 3-day visit to Telangana, where they met with district collectors, top police officials, and central and state law enforcement agencies. The purpose of the visit was to discuss suggestions and ensure free and fair elections in the state.
Led by Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Dharmendra Sharma, the EC team held a meeting with the chief secretary and other key government officials on the final day.
During the meeting, the chief secretary and director general of police reassured the team of their commitment to providing full cooperation for smooth and fair polling. They discussed the required presence of police personnel to ensure the safety of polling stations and electronic voting machines across Telangana. District Electoral Officers also proposed additional security arrangements for sensitive areas within their respective districts.
The EC team is also looking to prevent the use of money in elections and held discussions with officials from various departments including the Income Tax Department, Narcotics Control Board, Excise Department, State GST Central GST, Enforcement Directorate, State Level Bankers Committee, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Central Industrial Security Force, and State Commercial Tax Department.
In an effort to maintain the integrity of the voters’ list, District Collectors and booth level office bearers were instructed to revise the list and ensure that no duplicate entries are present. Chief Secretary Shanti Kumari expressed her administration’s full cooperation during the meeting with the Election Commission of India team.
The team consisted of Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Nitesh Kumar Vyas, Deputy Election Commissioner R K Gupta, Under Secretary Sanjay Kumar, Principal Secretary Avinash Kumar, Deputy Election Commissioner Hardesh Kumar, Deputy Election Commissioner Manoj Kumar Sahoo, Director General Media B Narayan, Senior Principal Secretary N R Batolia, and Director Planning Ms Deepali Mirkar. It is reported that the team will present their feedback and suggestions to the Election Commissioners based on their visit.
It is essential to ensure free and fair elections for the democratic process to function correctly. The efforts of the Election Commission of India (ECI) team for a corruption-free election in Telangana are much appreciated. The discussions held with officials from different departments highlight the efforts to tackle illegal activities and maintain the integrity of the voting system.
By revising the voters’ list and ensuring that no duplicate entries are present, the District Collectors and booth level office bearers are playing a vital role in preventing voter fraud. The EC team’s visit will undoubtedly assist in conducting the upcoming elections smoothly and without any disruption.
One can only hope that all the participants involved throughout Telangana will work towards the common goal of a free and fair election. The correct conduct of these elections will prove to be a significant milestone in the journey of Indian democracy.
