CS chairs meet on MCC, vaccination
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 09 2022: A meeting chaired by chief secretary Dr Rajesh Kumar on Sunday had thorough deliberations on the election Model Code of Conduct (MCC) guidelines, Covid vaccination of polling personnel and poll related security matters in connection with the upcoming Manipur Legislative Assembly, 2022.During the meeting the chief secretary briefed the official on the guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India and immediate action to be taken for enforcement of MCC subsequent to announcement for conduct of the election in two phases.

After due deliberation, the meeting decided that in view of resurgence of Covid cases all central/state government officials deployed for election duty will be doubly vaccinated and eligible officials given precautionary booster dose.

All polling agents and counting agents are also to be fully vaccinated.

Polling personnel not fully vaccinated would have to undergo RT-PCR testing before and after election duties.

On polling day, all voters must wear face masks mandatorily.

With regard to the MCC, the meet- ing resolved that all departments will not forward any reference directly to the Commission or send original file to the CEO's office but only a self-contained reference is to be sent through the Screening Committee headed by the chief secretary.

Ministers shall neither combine their official visit with electioneering work nor make use of official machinery or personnel during the electioneering work.

Public places for holding election meetings and use of helipads will not be monopolised.

Government accommodation where elections have been announced or are taking place can be given to the political functionaries who are provided security by the state in Z-scale or above under the condition that such political functionaries will not carry out any political activity while staying in the government guest houses/rest houses or other government accommodation, etc.

The meet further agreed that issue of advertisement at the cost of public exchequer in newspapers and other media and misuse of official mass media during the election period for partisan coverage of political news and publicity will be scrupulously avoided.

Ministers and other authorities will not sanction grants/payments out of discretionary funds from the time elections are announced by the Commission or announce any financial grants in any form or promises or lay foundation stones, etc., of projects or schemes of any kind or make any promises of construction of roads, provision of drinking water facilities etc., or make any ad-hoc appointments in government, public undertakings.

Speech of chief minister/ministers for the upcoming state/national functions will be drafted by the department concerned.

No advertisements will be issued in electronic and print media highlighting the achievements of the government at the cost of public exchequer.

There will be a total ban oh the transfer of all officers/officials connected with the conduct of the election.

This ban will be effective till the completion of the election.

The meeting further highlighted immediate action to be taken for enforcement of MCC with complete restriction on defacement of public and government property and removal of all wall writing, posters/papers or defacement in any other form, cut out/hoardings, banners, flags, etc, on government property within 24 hours from the announcement of elections and within 48 hours in public property from the announcement of elections by the Commission.

Moreover, unauthorised political advertisement displayed at private property shall be removed within 72 hours from the announcement of election.

Photograph of political functionary at official website will remove references of ministers, politicians or political parties.

List of all development/construction related activities' will be provided to the CEO/DEO for reference in case of validating any complaint on violation of MCC.

In relation to law and order, security arrangements and deployment of forces Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFsl and State Armed Police (SAP) drawn from other states will be deployed during the election based on the assessment of the ground situation.

There will also be no release of funds under MP/MLA Local Area Development Scheme, the meeting decided.

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