Chennai: The countdown for the assembly election in Tamil Nadu began on Sunday as the Election Commission of India brought the Model Code of Conduct into force, placing curbs on the govt and political parties. Flying squads and static surveillance teams were deployed across the state, political posters were removed from public walls and portraits of political leaders were removed from all govt offices. As part of enforcement measures, 128 vehicles for flying squads, static surveillance teams and video surveillance teams were flagged off from the Greater Chennai Corporation’s (GCC) Ripon Buildings campus. About 19,000 GCC workers were deployed on Sunday evening across the city to remove political posters, murals and other wall defacements in view of the model code of conduct. Each flying squad and static surveillance vehicle will include a magisterial-level officer, an assistant sub-inspector, a constable, an armed police personnel and a videographer. Video surveillance teams will consist of a magisterial-level officer and a videographer. While static surveillance teams will keep watch on illegal liquor, cash, bribery materials, video surveillance teams will record permitted campaign meetings, rallies and public gatherings. Unauthorised meetings and political activities would be informed to the control room. In Madurai and other places, vehicles to be used by the poll officials and the surveillance teams were fitted with GPS on Sunday. This will enable officials to monitor in real-time where these vehicles are stationed, the duration of their halts, and the specific routes they patrol. Statues of former chief ministers – CN Annadurai, MGR and J Jayalalithaa’s statues were covered with clothes in Coimbatore. In Chennai, a district election control room has also been set up for the public to report poll-related violations. Complaints can be lodged through the toll-free number 1800 425 7012. Complains can also be given through ‘CVigil’ mobile app.Officials have warned that cash exceeding 50,000 carried without valid documents will be seized by monitoring teams.There was also last minute rush to inaugurate multiple projects in Trichy.
