BMC polls are scheduled to be held on February 21.
Mumbai:
Maharashtra Election Commission Saturday said that it will keep a close watch on chartered flights and choppers to check illegal movement of cash and liquor during the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation or BMC polls.
"To curb the distribution of money and liquor among the voters, all the helipads, chartered flights, helicopters, coastal areas, jungles falling under the city limits would be patrolled," State Election Commissioner J S Saharia said.
Mr Saharia, who held a meeting in Mumbai to review the preparations for BMC polls scheduled to be held on February 21, said: "To curb the distribution of money and liquor among the voters, all the helipads, chartered flights, helicopters, coastal areas, jungles falling under the city limits would be patrolled," Mr Saharia told reporters.
He also expressed satisfaction over the preparations for the elections so far.
The former Maharashtra Chief Secretary, said, "The Commission is concerned about curbing the distribution of liquor and money among voters. In order to check these malpractices, we are going extra mile so that polls are conducted in a free and fair manner."
The crackdown on cash and alcohol would be done with the help of city police, railway police and Income Tax department.
"The Commission has also asked the Railways to check the compartments as a large consignment of liquor was seized in few days ago and it becomes a norm during the elections."
"The Election Monitoring Committee, comprising senior officers like district collectors, municipal commissioners and Income Tax officers would keep a close watch on the expenditure limits of the candidates. I-T officers would also keep a tab on the accounts of the candidates and hawala operators. If the candidates are found indulging suspicious withdrawals or transactions, then action would be initiated," Mr Saharia said.
News agency Press Trust of India reported that the commission has already appointed 15 Expenditure Observers, Income Tax mainly officers, to keep a tab on the expenses of the candidates.
According to the SEC, the election staff would start getting training for the smooth conduct of elections. "We have taken all the precautionary steps for free, fair and transparent polls to BMC. I along with the senior officers, including the BMC commissioner and other designated officer took a review meeting of the preparatory works being undertaken by the electoral officers and found it to be up to the mark," he said.
(with inputs from PTI)
"To curb the distribution of money and liquor among the voters, all the helipads, chartered flights, helicopters, coastal areas, jungles falling under the city limits would be patrolled," State Election Commissioner J S Saharia said.
Mr Saharia, who held a meeting in Mumbai to review the preparations for BMC polls scheduled to be held on February 21, said: "To curb the distribution of money and liquor among the voters, all the helipads, chartered flights, helicopters, coastal areas, jungles falling under the city limits would be patrolled," Mr Saharia told reporters.
He also expressed satisfaction over the preparations for the elections so far.
The former Maharashtra Chief Secretary, said, "The Commission is concerned about curbing the distribution of liquor and money among voters. In order to check these malpractices, we are going extra mile so that polls are conducted in a free and fair manner."
The crackdown on cash and alcohol would be done with the help of city police, railway police and Income Tax department.
"The Commission has also asked the Railways to check the compartments as a large consignment of liquor was seized in few days ago and it becomes a norm during the elections."
"The Election Monitoring Committee, comprising senior officers like district collectors, municipal commissioners and Income Tax officers would keep a close watch on the expenditure limits of the candidates. I-T officers would also keep a tab on the accounts of the candidates and hawala operators. If the candidates are found indulging suspicious withdrawals or transactions, then action would be initiated," Mr Saharia said.
News agency Press Trust of India reported that the commission has already appointed 15 Expenditure Observers, Income Tax mainly officers, to keep a tab on the expenses of the candidates.
According to the SEC, the election staff would start getting training for the smooth conduct of elections. "We have taken all the precautionary steps for free, fair and transparent polls to BMC. I along with the senior officers, including the BMC commissioner and other designated officer took a review meeting of the preparatory works being undertaken by the electoral officers and found it to be up to the mark," he said.
(with inputs from PTI)
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
