Sambalpur: Observers’ Review of Election Expenditure; Focus on Preventing Bribery, Free Stuff

Sambalpur: Today, a review meeting to monitor election expenditure was held in the Sambalpur District Council conference room. The meeting was presided over by Expenditure Controller Rajkumar R Makawana IRS (Expenditure Controller for Sambalpur AC, Rengali AC, and Kuchinda AC) and Expenditure Controller Bineet Kumar IRS, Sambalpur PC. Sambalpur District Collector Akshay Sunil Agrawal welcomed both spending inspectors and addressed the full election expenditure monitoring team.

He urged everyone to be active and watchful to put an end to illicit bribes in any form, as well as the transportation of narcotics, alcohol, and narcotics. He stressed strictly following all the rules and policies of the Election Commission of India related to expenditure and implementing them literally. Expenditure inspectors talked about Assistant Expenditure Inspector, Vacancy Superintendent, Non-Executive Officer, Static Surveillance Team, Video Surveillance Team, Flying Squad Team, Video Drawing Team, and STM Team. They addressed their respective roles and responsibilities.

Rajkumar R Makawana instructed the IRS enforcement team, DST, SST, and FST teams to be nice and strict when interacting with the public during inspections where illicit activity is suspected. Several case studies and examples were covered, including monitoring systems, cost monitoring equipment, shadow observation registers, evidence development, mass production, and storage. CDO & EO Dharmendra Mallick, Additional District Commissioner Ajambar Mohanty, Additional Commissioner Sunil Kerketa, and Upazilapal Dr. Puspanjali Panda were all present.