Squads formed ahead of Assembly polls in Tirunelveli district

Various squads to ensure free and fair elections have been constituted in Tirunelveli district.

Led by Collector and District Electoral Officer R. Sukumar, static surveillance teams, flying squads, video surveillance teams and video viewing teams have been formed, and they were given preliminary training at the Collectorate on Friday. The next phase of training sessions will be conducted during this week.

The teams will be deployed in Tirunelveli, Ambasamudram, Palayamkottai, Nanguneri and Radhapuram Assembly constituencies after the election is formally notified by the Election Commission. They will check the movement of cash, gifts, liquor and weapons, among other things, that could influence voters.

Since campaigning through social media platforms has become easier and an effective way to reach voters, video viewing and surveillance teams have been formed to monitor them. If electioneering through social media platforms violate the established norms of the ECI, the teams will file complaint with the District Election Officer for appropriate action.

According to Dr. Sukumar, each team has been given clear instructions about its responsibilities and dos and don’ts before, during and after the polling.

The preliminary training held at the Collectorate on Friday was given by Special District Revenue Officer Mari Selvi, Personal Assistant Collector (Accounts) Vasanth and Accounting Officer of District Rural Development Agency Rajakannan.

Meanwhile, Dr. Sukumar handed over Form 6 to Election Knowledge Centres in all 129 colleges in the district for enrolling all eligible students as voters.

The Collector also appealed to the coordinators of the centres to organise voter awareness programmes in villages close to their institutions.