Meeting of Election Commission of India Preparedness for General Elections to Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, 2016

Tamil Nadu - Basic Data Population Density 555 per sq. km 1.3 lac sq.kmTamil Nadu Area Polling Station locations29,291 Polling Stations Revenue Divisions76 Electoral Districts32 Assembly Constituencies (Total) 234 Assembly Constituencies (SC) 44 Assembly Constituencies (ST) census2016 Projected 7,21,47,0307,75,70,640 65, Auxiliary Polling Stations added

Polling StationsPolling Station Locations UrbanRuralTotalUrbanRuralTotal Aux Auxiliary Polling Stations 302 Model Polling Stations936 PS All Women234 PS not in ground floorNil PS for PWD13 Polling Stations LocationsNo. of PS 1 PS PS PS PS PS PS & More1128

Basic Minimum Facilities at Polling Stations  100% Polling Stations inspection by RO/ARO.  Without sharing the data, Google map can be used for navigation  Audit of BMF done with independent auditors about usability FacilitiesAvailability (65616 PS) %age Ramp 63, Electricity 65, Toilet 65, Drinking Water 65,

Wheel Chair at Polling stations  12,000 WHEEL CHAIRS: Highest in any election across India  VOLUNTEER HELP DESK: A volunteer and a help desk at each of the 29, 291 locations from amongst the NCC, NSS and interested civil society groups  TRAINING: Training to the volunteers and polling personnel in various accessible related soft skills will be planned through quality resources and audio-video training material. (ONE SUCH TRAINING VIDEO WILL BE INAUGARATED IN PREENCE OF THE COMMISSION)

EXPENDITURE MONITORING – FIELD TEAMS  24X7 Control Rooms are functioning In all District Level.  Wide Publicity made Phone numbers  GPS monitoring TeamsNumber Flying Squads716 Static Surveillance Teams718 Video Surveillance Teams702 Video Viewing Teams234 Accounting Teams234

District Level Nodal Officers identified for each of the 32 electoral districts. An IT enabled portal _ to monitor and analyse daily transaction of all the Banks across the State. No Frill account transaction details requested Liquor sale monitored online. DEO/RO can check shop specific sale and increase. IP Cameras at production, storage and distribution - all distilleries and bottling units Daily report by Commn Prohibition and excise 32 district level enforcement team under AdySP Air Intelligence and Sea Intelligence units of IT dept have been activated in all airports/seaports within Tamil Nadu Expenditure Monitoring- INNOVATIONS

Expenditure Monitoring..Cont.. Stepped up surveillance at Railway Stations and Bus stands Daily CCTV feed Sharing of intelligence Surprise checks The Income Tax (IT) - District team -one Assistant Commissioner, three Income Tax Officers and six Inspectors - Monitoring of cash Nodal officer for DRA and Customs also Appointed 67 nos. of ECRPs selected for all Districts. (for Chennai 5 ECRPs and for all other districts 2 each)

TN ELECTIONS- Mobile App DOWNLOADS comparator BIHAR samadhan App 1,000 Assam samadhan App 1,000 West Bengal Samadhan App 10,000 AN ALL INCLUSIVE APP for the first time Offers over 15 services ELECTORAL SERVICES SAMADHAN (Theervu) SUVIDHA (Sauharyam) Q Status Polling Personnel log- in for FST, SMS based Poll monitoring Info & Media TAMIL NADU App “TN ELECTIONS” Downloaded 25, only on android phones First app in elections to be also available on iOS & Windows To further enrich app experience we are integrating pre and post satisfaction survey being conducted by the Chennai mathematical Institute and also the mobile payment gateway for EPIC

Political Meeting Changing dynamics – Major expenses is on crowd mobilization – Vehicles ferrying crowd – Food – Cash Incentive to participants in public meetings ECI instructions – Video viewing team should interview taxi drivers and other vehicle drivers who ferry the participants – In addition videographers should be asked to interview public about money and food charges paid Challenge – Is it bribery to voters – Or should only be accounted for expenditure

Gifts Gifts for party workers Gifts for voters – Sarees, Towels, Anklets, Cell phone, Helmets Storage of gifts – Tokens – Supplier may be regular shops Checking of premises on complaints – Observers need to be vigilant Without getting involved in physical process of checking As per the relevant rules

Distribution of Money Direct cash distribution – Door to door in last 7 days – Early hours or at late night hours Storage of cash distributed – Each person may not carry more than permissible limit of Rs Quick – Immediate action – Zero delay – Observer should rush with flying squad – Actual checking by FS not by Observer

New Strategy Informal Channel of Communication Village Vigilance Committees in each village – Interaction to gather information about modus operandi Speak daily to about villagers Speak to party workers in villages daily Last one week to be on rounds from 10 pm to 6am

Recognized Parties (National and State) National – Indian National Congress (INC) – Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) – Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) – Nationalist Congress party (NCP) – CPI ( Communist Party of India) – CPI (M) ( Communist Party of India ( Marxist) State – AIADMK ( All India Anna Dravid Munettra Kazhgam) – DMK ( Dravid Munettra Kazhgam) – DMDK (Desiya Murpokkau Dravid Kazhgam)

Other Important Registered Parties PMK ( Pattali Makkal Katchi) MDMK (Marumallarchi Dravid Munettra Kazhgam TMC(M) Tamil Manila Congress( Moopnar) Viduthalai Sirthagal Katchi Pudiya Tamizhgam Manithnaye Makkal katchi