PunjabPolls | Punjab all set to go to polls on February 4

punjab-polls

The state of Punjab is all set to go to polls on February 4, 2017, and Punjab chief electoral officer (CEO) VK Singh on Wednesday said that VVPATs will be used in keeping in mind sensitivity of the constituency. Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) will be used in 35 out of total 117 assembly constituencies in Punjab.

VVPAT is a method of providing feedback to voters. VVPAT is attached to the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) to help electors verify that their vote has been cast correctly.“VVPATs will be preferably used at district headquarters during the polls,” he said.He added that an assistant commissioner of income tax will be stationed at each district. “The officer will have the power to carry a search on the premises on a complaint against any individual,” he said.

He said 100 observers will be deployed in the state on January 18. Also, 6,000 pockets in different polling stations have been identified as vulnerable, and adequate security arrangements will be made at there.

The model code of conduct was enforced in the state after noon on Wednesday, immediately after the EC announced the election schedule for Punjab, he said.

He said candidates contesting the polls will have to furnish an affidavit mentioning that he has no dues against his name in form of electricity bill, telephone bill or any other fees, including rent of the house.

He said the expenses of booths set up near the polling stations will be borne by the candidate and not by his party.

The maximum expenditure limit per candidate has been fixed at Rs 28 lakh.