The noise has completely stopped for the byelections to be held on seven assembly seats of the state. Now the candidates will only be able to woo voters by going door to door. Votes will be cast for the byelections in all the seven assembly constituencies on Wednesday morning.
In such a situation, the Election Department has started keeping a close watch from 6 pm on Monday to 6 pm on Wednesday, i.e. for a total of 48 hours. Along with this, a ban has been imposed on organising any election rally, road show, election meeting and likewise. Advertisements related to election campaigns will not be showcased on TV channels, mobile SMS, recorded calls, other electronic media and cinema halls during this period.
Chief Election Officer Naveen Mahajan said that the Commission has directed the election machinery, administration and police officials to ensure compliance of these instructions. During this period, it has been asked to monitor community centres, dharamshalas, and so on, where outsiders are accommodated, to verify or collect information about the people staying in guest houses, lodges, hotels, and to keep an eye on vehicles coming from outside. For this, action will also be taken to establish check posts and verify them.
Seizures increase by three times in all seven assembly constituencies
Meanwhile, compared to Rajasthan assembly elections 2023, there has been more than a three-fold increase in the seizure of illegal material like cash, liquor, and so on in seven assembly constituencies during the current byelections 2024. While illegal items worth Rs 15.81 crore were seized in these assembly constituencies during the elections, the value of illegal material seized in these areas so far during the byelections is Rs 48.62 crore.
This is 207% more than before. Mahajan said that after the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct in the state, efforts are being made to keep the election process free from the influence of money and power. Flying squads (FS), static surveillance teams (SST) and police, agencies and likewise, formed by the Election Department are continuously active to prevent free distribution of items to lure voters.
Dausa ranks first for seizure of cash and liquor
Mahajan said that in view of the role of cash and liquor in influencing elections by luring voters, the districts have been ranked giving more importance to their seizure in the capture of illegal items. According to this ranking, Dausa district ranks first, Nagaur second and Alwar third. Illegal items worth Rs 29.58 crore have been seized in Dausa district.
Illegal cash and other items worth Rs 25.20 crore have been seized in Nagaur and Rs 21.99 crore in Tonk district.