Training Programme Of District Nodal Officers On Election Expenditure Monitoring Held
Bhubaneswar: A comprehensive training program was conducted for the District Nodal Officers on Election Expenditure Monitoring, coinciding with the 2024 simultaneous general elections, at the office of the Chief Electoral Officer. Emphasizing the indispensable nature of free and fair elections in a democracy, Chief Electoral Officer Sri Nikunja Bihari Dhal firmly directed all district-level nodal officers to execute their duties with utmost integrity and unwavering courage.
The District Nodal Officers bear the weighty responsibility of safeguarding against the misuse of financial influence to uphold the sanctity of elections. Vigilance will be maintained over the expenditure of all candidates, ensuring adherence to the prescribed limits of Rs 40 lakh for Assembly candidates and Rs 95 lakh for Lok Sabha candidates.
Chief Electoral Officer Sri Dhal underscored the necessity for comprehensive arrangements at the district level to monitor and address issues such as expenditure concealment, misrepresentation, and instances of paid news, with strict adherence to the governing regulations.
During the two-session training program, the nodal officers received detailed instruction on their roles, responsibilities, powers, functions, and the legal intricacies of Election Expenditure Monitoring. Additional Chief Electoral Officer Dr. N. Tirumala Nayak and Mr. Shatrughna Kar elaborated on these aspects through informative PowerPoint presentations.
Participation was widespread, with nodal officers from all districts of the state engaging in the training sessions, where they were equipped with vital insights into the critical facets of Expenditure Monitoring.
