Hoshiarpur - An important meeting was organized with the candidates and their polling agents in connection with the upcoming by-election in Chabewal Assembly Constituency today at the District Administrative Complex. The meeting was chaired by General Observer Tapas Kumar Bagchi and Expenditure Observer Saran Jose with the aim of ensuring a transparent, fair and peaceful election process. During this, important aspects related to election code, issues related to polling stations, election expenses were also discussed and related guidelines were given to all the candidates.
 The General Observer provided detailed information related to the election protocol and emphasized that all candidates and their polling agents during the election process. He said that the purpose of the election code is to keep the election process fair and free so that all voters can exercise their right to vote without any pressure. Giving information about all the rules and arrangements included in the election code, he said that the Election Commission adopts a policy of zero tolerance towards inappropriate activities and violation of rules.
The General Observer appealed that during the campaign, the instructions of the Election Commission should be strictly followed and no community, caste and religious sentiments should be hurt. He said that any kind of hate speech, criticism of one's personal life, advertisements misleading people, advertisements should not be presented as news. He clarified that religious places cannot be used for election campaigning. He said that to do any activity related to the elections, it is necessary to take approval from the concerned authorities.
In this meeting, the Expenditure Observer also conducted a special training session on election expenditure management. He said that the Election Commission of India has set an expenditure limit of Rs 40 lakh for each candidate in this by-election. Candidates will have to keep an accurate record of every expenditure keeping in mind the scope of this limit. The Expenditure Observer directed the candidates to keep their election expenses within the prescribed limits and register the same in a transparent manner. He also informed about the methods indicated by the Commission to maintain transparency in expenditure monitoring so that expenditure details can be verified at any time.
The General Observer and Expenditure Observer appealed to the present candidates and polling agents to cooperate for a fair and transparent election process. He also said that if any candidate violates the election rules, strict action will be taken by the commission. He appealed to all to extend their support in conducting the elections in a peaceful, disciplined and transparent manner.
Additional Deputy Commissioner-cum-Returning Officer Rahul Chaba said that a total of 6 candidates are contesting the Chabewal by-election to whom election symbols have been issued. He said that the votes will be held on November 13 and the counting of votes will be done on November 23. He said that the mobile number of General Observer Tapas Kumar Bagchi appointed by the Election Commission of India for the by-election in the Vidhan Sabha constituency is 89182-26101; Expenditure Controller Mr. Saran Jose Mobile No. 70876-96950; And the mobile number of Police Observer Siddharth Kaushal is 86998-66950. Election observers can be contacted for issues related to by-elections.