The chief electoral officer VL Kantha Rao admitted that most of the districts are not providing proper expenditure details to the election commission. There are several reports from the expenditure observers that accounts submitted by the contestants do not match with their accounts.
CEO Rao said that 72 hours, 48 hours and 24 hours before polling are considered very crucial and there is a fixed protocol to be followed. Speaking specifically on 72 hours protocol, Rao said that all breweries, distilleries and warehouses have been sealed to control liquor supply so that it is not used to lure voters. All 456 tolls present at the border have been sealed.
Rao informed that there are 11 distilleries, 7 breweries, 14 bottling plants of IMFL and 13 plants of Country made liquor. All these have been sealed and police force has been deployed to keep eye on them. There are 130 liqour shops in MP and 84 across the border in other states within 3 km of border of MP. Strict vigil is being kept by 1770 surveillance teams on sale and transport of liquor besides other poll related works.
Giving details about deployment of police and paramilitary forces in state, Rao said that more than 1.80 lakh police force would remain deployed to conduct free and fair elections. He said that 80% of the police force of MP that comes to around 1 lakh has been deployed besides additional 80,000 paramilitary forces have also been deployed. Overall 650 companies and 33,000 home guards have been put in place to conduct assembly elections.
Rao said Balaghat has been placed under most sensitive zone and 76 companies, that is highest in state, have been deployed there. Other sensitive areas include Bhind where 24 companies have been deployed, Morena with 19 companies and Shivpuri where 12 companies have been sent. Two extra companies have been sent to Balaghat and Bhind while one extra company has been sent to Morena and Shivpuri.
One helicopter each has been allotted to Mandla and Balaghat district considering naxal threat and sensitiveness of region. Third helicopter will remain present in Bhopal and serve as air-ambulance. Satellite phones are being made available in the region where mobile network is found week. Moreover, 20,000 wireless sets that are present in state would be used. There are other 4000 extra wireless sets available while 3300 sets would be borrowed from other states.
8597 complaints received, 914 pending
CEO informed that since announcement of polls total 8597 complaints had been received till date out of which 6458 have been disposed while 914 lie pending. All 88 complaints received from political parties during their interaction with the commission have been disposed. 215 complaints were filed related to violation of poll code, 16 related to media, 5858 complaints on national grievance services and 2541 through cVigil.
Till date Congress had lodged 187 complaints with the election commission out of which 136 have been disposed and 51 lie pending. The BJP made 72 complaints out of which 45 have been disposed and 27 remain pending.
Two liquor shops, two petrol pumps sealed
CEO said that two liquor shops in Chhindwara were sealed and their license temporarily suspended from November 23 to 26. Another liquor shop was sealed in the state capital for violation of norms. Two petrol pumps in Balaghat district were sealed after they were found distributing free petrol to influence voters.