Bhubaneswar: The Chief Electoral Officer of Odisha, R. Santhagopalan, convened a crucial meeting with representatives of various political parties today at Lokseva Bhavan, Bhubaneswar. The discussion centered on election-related procedures, voter list updates, and compliance with electoral guidelines to ensure a smooth and transparent democratic process.
Among the key attendees were Amar Patnaik from the Biju Janata Dal, Sivananda Roy of the Indian National Congress, Dushmanta Kumar Deb from the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Madhusudan Yadav of the Bahujan Samaj Party, and Sudipta Kumar Das from the Aam Aadmi Party. They contributed valuable suggestions on electoral processes and voter registration mechanisms.
The meeting addressed the continuous updating process of voter lists, emphasizing that claims and objections must be filed under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and the Electoral Registration Rules, 1960. Eligible voters can apply for registration using Forms 6, 6A, 7, or 8, with supporting documents such as passport-sized photographs, proof of age, and address. Applications can be submitted digitally through the Voter Helpline App or in person to Booth Level Officers (BLOs).
Santhagopalan highlighted the role of Booth Level Agents (BLAs) appointed by recognized political parties to assist in voter list corrections, additions, and deletions. These agents, working alongside Booth Level Officers, help verify entries and identify deceased or displaced voters. To maintain transparency, political parties must appoint District Representatives who will oversee the functioning of BLAs and ensure compliance with election procedures.
The Election Commission has also reinforced the importance of maintaining accurate expenditure statements by candidates and political parties. Failure to submit election expense reports within the prescribed time frame constitutes a violation of election rules. The guidelines for expenditure monitoring are applicable year-round and not just during the election period.
Additionally, the meeting covered the role of the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) in scrutinizing political advertisements and preventing paid news. District-level and state-level MCMCs will oversee the verification and certification of political content across TV, radio, cinema halls, print media, social media, and bulk messaging services. Pre-certification of political advertisements is mandated to ensure adherence to legal provisions under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, and other relevant guidelines.
The meeting concluded with Santhagopalan urging all political parties to update the contact details of their district representatives to facilitate smoother coordination in the upcoming electoral processes. This engagement underscored the Election Commission’s commitment to enhancing voter participation, strengthening electoral integrity, and ensuring that elections in Odisha are conducted fairly and transparently.
