A five-member Election Commission of India (ECI) delegation led by Deputy Chief Election Commissioner Hirdesh Kumar on Monday held a high-level meeting with top administration and Punjab police officials to review the preparedness of Lok Sabha elections in the state. The meeting was chaired by the Chief Secretary of Punjab Anurag Verma. During the meeting, Anurag Verma and the Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C reiterated that no stone will be left unturned to conduct free and fair elections in the state. The CEO apprised the ECI team that all the 24,433 polling stations have 100% AMF of Ramp, drinking water, electricity, lighting, Toilets (M/F) furniture, proper signage, waiting shed, wheelchair and other required facilities at all polling stations for conducting a smooth and fair elections in the forthcoming elections. The CEO informed the team that all the Polling stations have internet facilities for webcasting. Apart from this, it has been ensured that all required facilities to polling staff for stay and also for giving all voter facilities like shade, a waiting area provided, therefore, the polling staff would not face any hassle while conducting the elections. Sibin C told the ECI team that all polling staff welfare measures will be done as per ECI guidelines including appointment of nodal officer at DEO and ARO levels. There have been impeccable arrangements at counting centers in the state. He said that stern action will be initiated against erring officials if any complaints is received and found to be involved in any favoritism. Stating that the police officers would be handling most important task of maintaining law and order situation in the state during elections, the DGP Gaurav Yadav apprised the ECI Team that all SSPs are monitoring their inter-state and international borders diligently and high-tech nakas have been installed across the state. He said that police officials have close coordination with BSF at international borders to check any smuggling/infiltration from across the border. Meanwhile, the ECI team asked all officials to perform their duty fearlessly and with full dedication to ensure implementation of the Election Commission of India guidelines in letter and spirit, so that free and fair Lok Sabha elections could takes place in the state. The other ECI team members comprise Ajay Bhadoo, Deputy Election Commissioner; SB Joshi, Principal Secretary; Soumyajit Ghosh, Secretary and KP Singh, Under Secretary.

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