Polling personnel training letters issued - BLOs need not be exempted

Appointment for training to polling personnel has already been served to concerned officers/ staff on 13th April 2009, others will certainly get it on 16th April 2009. A large number of polling personnel from Kalyani Subdivision have to perform poll duty in Ranaghat and Krishnagar PC, few of them in Karimpur AC also. We are trying our best to accommodate poll duties within PC in which the officer/staff is posted/ resides. Nobody can be posted in home AC or office AC.

BLOs were exempted from poll duties as they are likely to be used for Assistance booth at double or above booth premises and also for booth level works regarding EPIC, Electoral Rolls, ASD. However, it might be possible that some of them (may be 10 % of total) got poll duty letters because of shortage of polling personnel. It has been decided for the time being that such BLOs may not be exempted from poll duty and shall undergo trainings along with others. They may be exempted on DC day if possible. Sector Officers, DCRC staff/officers and other staff employed by SDOs/BDOs/District HQ for actual election work will be exempted from poll duty. Such cases can be brought to the notice of PP cell. Polling personnel who are political functionaries (office bearers) of political parties/trade union will also be exempted from poll duty. If any such case is noticed, that should be promptly brought to notice of SDOs/PP cell.

Exemptions can be processed by SDOs but exemption shall take place through computer generated software only, therefore can be given effect at District level.

All polling personnel attending training must bring two passport size photographs duly pasted on ID card supplied along with appointment letter. At the end of first day training ID card shall be issued to them with signature of DEO and stamped. ID card issued by DEO is must for poll duty this time. In case of micro observers also the same procedure shall be followed.

Central Govt employees of Group A & B shall be appointed Micro Observer, therefore clerical and Gr D have been given polling personnel duties as allowed by ECI.

Permission for use of vehicles by Candidates to be granted by SDOs as AROs

Nomination process is going on. Candidates are required to take permission of vehicles used for poll campaigning from the Returning Officers and display such permission prominently on the windscreen. It has been decided that such permission to the Candidate or his election agent can be granted by ARO & SDO at Subdivision level for convenience of the Candidates. However, list of vehicles permitted to each Candidate by ARO on daily basis has to be furnished to observers, RO/DEO and local BDO/ Police Station for record.

Permission letter must bear the number of vehicle, name of Candidate and name of political party, date of issue and PC name etc. A letter showing the format of register to be maintained at Subdivision level has been circulated by email/ fax. RTO Nadia or OC Statutory cell at Collectorate can be contacted for further details/ queries.

There is no ceiling on number of vehicles to be used for poll campaigning, but expenses must be noted in the election expense register.

Meeting with all officers at 4 pm on 16th April 2009 at Collectorate Conference hall to review election preparedness

A meeting of officials to review arrangements for training to polling personnel from 18th April 2009 is scheduled at 4 pm on 16th April 2009. It is now decided that this meeting will be followed by a meeting of all cell in charges, ADMs in the Collectorate Conference hall. Therefore, both the meetings shall be held at Conference hall and will be attended by All officers/ ADMs and SDO Sadar. OCs of cells must bring written progress report of activities assigned to their cells for discussion.