AP is "Expenditure Sensitive" State: Dy ECI

Known across the country for having many crorepati MPs, the undivided Andhra Pradesh has now been classified as "Expenditure Sensitive" State by the Election Commission of India.

Speaking to media persons after holding a review meeting with District Collectors, Police Commissioners, Superintendents of Police and other senior officials at Jubilee Hall here on Thursday, Deputy Election Commissioner Vinod Zutshi informed that special measures were being taken to check the expenditure by the candidates and political parties in the ensuing general elections. He said one Expenditure Observer would be appointed for each of the 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in the State. He said so far, the authorities have seized Rs 16 crore unaccounted cash across the State.

Zutshi informed that as on today, there are 6,25,83,653 voters in Andhra Pradesh. Nearly 10 lakh more applications are pending with the election authorities and District Electoral Officers have been asked to clear them by March 20th. He said that the fresh voters could still enroll their names in the electoral list. The last date for enrollment in Telangana will be March 30 while it will be April 9 for Seemandhra region.

The ensuing elections will have 100 per cent photo-electoral list. This will completely curb the malpractices like impersonation. He said auxiliary polling booths would be set up in nearby buildings to facilitate the increasing number of voters.

Zutshi said that the Model Code of Conduct would be strictly implemented. Any complaint of violation against the political parties or candidates would be addressed within 24 hours and the action taken report would be sent to the complainant through SMS/e-mail. He said the identification of sensitive booths has been completed and additional forces would be deployed in such locations. A senior IAS officer, assisted by two juniors, will be appointed as General Observer for each Parliamentary Constituency. There will be one Police Observer for sensitive areas. Since Andhra Pradesh is presently under the President's Rule, the Model Code of Conduct would be applicable on the Governor.

He informed that a meeting of observers would be held at Vignan Bhavan in New Delhi on March 15.

Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwarlal was also present in the review meeting held on Thursday.