Candidates' Spend in Elections - Election Commission Monitoring Black Money and Liquor distribution - Video Recording

HYDERABAD: Candidates beware, big brother is watching your every move! Every flexi banner, every hoarding being put up, mobilization of people for public meetings, or rallies that accompany candidates while filing nomination papers __ all will be under the scrutiny of the Election Commission (EC). These will be videographed by professionals and included in the candidate's expenditure statement.

For the first time, the EC has taken a decision to this effect and asked returning officers (ROs) to enlist the services of skilled videographers to record every flexi put up by candidates and include it in the expenditure statement.

On the EC's instructions, the Hyderabad district administration has decided to engage nearly 150 videographers to cover two Lok Sabha constituencies -Hyderabad and Secunderabad -and 14 Assembly constituencies in Hyderabad district. "We will issue a tender notification to engage videographers in a day or two," Hyderabad collector and returning officer Mukesh Kumar Meena told TOI.

"We will depute a three-member team, including a videographer, to record and scrutinise. Later, they will send details like number of flexies displayed by candidate concerned and asked him/her to include it in the election expenditure," he said.

Usually, the candidates identify prime areas where there is a huge footfall, like shopping malls, temples, markets and public transport system (bus stops) and put up flexies. The aspirants have to ensure that flexies do not cause inconvenience to the general public and in front of religious/worships places. "Action will be initiated against candidates who violate rules prescribed in the election manual," the official added.

The videographer would also cover public meetings and rallies (convoy) taken out by the aspirants at the time of filing nominations. Sometimes, public meetings continue beyond 11 pm. A team would monitor the video and issue notices to the candidate concerned, in case he/she violates the rules and regulations prescribed in the model code of conduct (MCC). The violation may even lead to disqualifications of the candidate from the electoral fray," the collector added.

"The process of video recording will continue till elections are over," Mukesh Kumar Meena said.

Courtesy : Sakshi Paper & Times of India Dt.10th Mar 2014