Kohima: The Election Commission India has deployed 13 Expenditure Observers for Nagaland for monitoring the flow of illegal cash and other inducements during the upcoming Assembly election to the state.
According to Nagaland Election Department sources here today the ECI has deployed 13 Expenditure Observers from the officials deputed by the Central Board of Direct Taxes and Central Board of Excise and Customs will act as Election Expenditure Observers.
The observers will monitor all Election Commission guidelines framed to curb the use of money power in the run-up to the polls.
Nagaland Chief Electoral Officer J Alam had informed that sealing expenditure of a candidate is Rs 8 Lakhs and anybody found carrying Rs 50,000 or above in cash during the election period was liable for explanation irrespective of carrying it for political, business or personal purposes.
If any cash exceeding Rs 50,000 is found in a vehicle carrying the candidate or his agent or party worker, as well as political posters, liquor, guns, and other materials which are likely to be used for political campaigns valuing more than Rs 10,000 would be subjected to seizure.
There will also be Monitoring Cells in the district headquarters, while every district will have an Expenditure Observer, besides the Micro Observers.
Moreover, District Level Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) headed by the Returning Officer or District Election Officer, DPRO concerned and other members will be set up for the purpose of monitoring certification of advertisements and to examine complaints of paid news.
He further informed that Electoral Rolls, after final publication of the Nagaland has a total of 11,81,731 electorate in the State as per the Special Summary Revision of Electoral Rolls published, of them, 5,97,204 are male while 5,84,527 are female.
The Assembly elections in Nagaland on February 23 and the counting of votes will be held on February 28. (UNI)