Cash transactions will be monitored: Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik
Tamil Nadu: Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik stated that if large-scale financial transactions take place, they will be monitored.
Speaking to reporters at the Chennai Secretariat on Monday, she said: “As of March 15, there are 5.69 crore voters in Tamil Nadu. Of these, 2.90 crore are women, 2.78 crore are men, and 7,656 are transgender individuals. Since the release of the final voter list, 3.14 lakh new voters have been added. You may apply to have your name added to the voter list; applications for inclusion in the voter list can be submitted until March 26. Their names will subsequently be included in the voter list.”
“Even if voters possess a Voter ID card, they should still verify whether their name appears in the voter list and identify their designated polling station.”
“2,106 Flying Squads: To enforce the Election Model Code of Conduct and take action against violators, 2,106 flying squads have been deployed across Tamil Nadu. Individuals should not carry cash exceeding ₹50,000 without proper documentation. A document explaining the source of the funds is mandatory.”
“The flying squads have been instructed not to harass the general public during searches. They have been directed to immediately return any seized cash to individuals who are able to produce valid supporting documents.”
“Monitoring Financial Transactions: Large-scale financial transactions conducted through apps such as Google Pay and PhonePe will be monitored. So far, cash and goods worth ₹1.26 crore have been seized across Tamil Nadu. We are also utilizing AI technology to monitor videos circulated on social media in connection with the elections.”
“Online Permissions for Campaigning: Political parties are permitted to conduct election campaigning between 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM. Priority will be accorded to those who submit their applications for campaign permissions on a first-come, first-served basis.” Applications for permission to conduct election campaigns can be submitted online. If more than 5,000 people gather for election campaign meetings, it is advised that basic amenities, such as water, be made available. She stated that 50 companies of paramilitary forces have already arrived in Tamil Nadu for election-related duties. Only five days now remain for filing nominations.
The process for filing nominations for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections will commence on March 30. Nominations may be filed between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Nominations cannot be filed on March 31, April 3, and April 5, as these are public holidays.
In an interview, Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik explained that, consequently, candidates will be able to file their nominations on only five days: March 30, April 1, April 2, April 3, and April 6.
