IMPHAL, February 24: A one-day state-level workshop on Election Expenditure Monitoring (EEM) and Model Code of Conduct (MCC) was organised on Monday at 1:30 pm by Chief Election Officer (CEO), Manipur at Classic Hotel, Imphal.
CEO Manipur O Nabakishor, DIPR director W Rajen Singh and chairman of the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee Tombikanta Singh attended the workshop as presidium members respectively.
Joint CEO N Prabin Singh spoke on the “Role of Media in Election”.
He mentioned that Manipur is one of the few states that has implemented EEM in the country and further lauded All Manipur Working Journalist Union as paid news reporting was almost null during the last assembly election held in 2012.
For the conduct of a free and fair election, involvement of media and political parties is very important, he continued.
Conveying to the gathering about the ECI’s new instruction, he said that all the fields of affidavit filed by the candidates should not be left blank. Although, the concerned DEO will inform any candidate who had made failed to fill up the fields, his candidature is liable to be rejected if he fails to comply with the DEO’s instruction in time.
Assistant CEO Peter Salam presented a lecture on “Expenditure Monitoring and Paid News.”
He said that election expenditure is vital part of every election and if the illegal expenditures could be contained, then the result of the election will surely be better.
Any candidate who fails to submit election expenditure in time is liable to be disqualified for a period of three years, he continued.
Imphal West deputy commissioner K Radhakumar talked on election Model Code of Conduct.
Radhakumar said people need a fuller understanding of the topic. He opined that MCC is the guideline.
In short, ECI is trying to ensure healthy and peaceful environment during election time by enforcing MCC, he said before adding that the philosophy behind MCC is to avoid various factors of influences on voters by the candidates.
During the interaction, CPI secretary Dr Nara observed that any discussion on how to ensure free and fair election is missing from the workshop at which the CEO responded that the candates are expected to conduct in a free and fair manner.
CPI (M) state secretariat member Kshetrimayum Santa sought the attention of the CEO Manipur on the issue of Rs 500 and 1000 notes invalidated by the RBI which could be sold at devalued rate during the upcoming Lok Sabha election which could be distributed to voters.
The CEO responded that the matter is relevant with the upcoming election and could be placed in the next round of meeting with the ECI.