Thrissur district, Kerala, has witnessed the removal of over six lakh election campaign materials due to violations of the model code of conduct. The anti-defacement squad, operating under the district election administration, has been actively removing posters, banners, flex boards, and decorative ribbons displayed or pasted on public or government property. The squad has also addressed complaints received from private property owners regarding the unauthorized use of their premises for campaign materials.
A total of 6,90,521 items have been removed or marked with black paint, including 6,87,998 posters, banners, or flex boards displayed on electric poles, bus stands, and other public spaces. Additionally, 2,523 complaints were received from private property owners, highlighting the unauthorized use of their premises for campaign purposes.
The district election administration has been monitoring the cVigil mobile application of the Election Commission of India (ECI) for registering online complaints by alert citizens. The app has received thousands of complaints pertaining to violations of the model code of conduct, and over 10,000 complaints have already been redressed.
When asked about the imposition of fines, the official stated that a decision on the matter would be taken by the appropriate authority after the elections on April 26. Any fines to be levied on the concerned parties will be determined at that time.
Thrissur district is one of the 20 districts in Kerala and comprises 13 Assembly constituencies. The Thrissur constituency has 14.83 lakh voters, while the district as a whole has around 26,67,000 registered voters. The district has 2,325 polling booths, with 48 deemed critical.
Regarding security arrangements, the official stated that additional security personnel, including state and Central police/paramilitary forces, will be deployed at critical polling stations. All polling booths will have CCTV coverage, with one manned entirely by youth and fifteen by female officials and staff.
The cVIGIL mobile app has played a significant role in addressing the need for swift reporting of MCC violations. In the past, delays in reporting allowed culprits to evade detection by election commission squads. However, cVIGIL enables citizens to report violations promptly, capturing photos or videos as evidence. The election machinery responds promptly to each case within a 100-minute timeline, ensuring swift action.
The app has several key advantages:
1. It provides citizens with a user-friendly platform to submit pictorial evidence of moral code of conduct violations.
2. Reported incidents are tracked and scrutinized from start to finish, enhancing accountability.
3. The immediate location verification feature acts as a deterrent for wrongdoers, facilitating their tracking.
4. These features encourage citizens to actively monitor electoral practices, aiding the Election Commission in conducting free and fair elections.
