CHENNAI: The Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik's office is gearing up for the hullabaloo of Assembly polls, restricting not just the unauthorised use of taking snaps, using mobiles or digital cameras, but also the handing over of flower bouquets, an obvious attempt to steer clear of controversies while receiving top political leaders or their representatives.
As part of the restrictions, visitors can't take mobile phones or cameras into the top election officer's workplace without proper permission.
The CEO's office, located on the first floor of the three-storey heritage building in the Secretariat, regularly receives delegations from political parties on matters such as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the rationalisation of polling stations. In the run-up to the Assembly polls, many other poll-related issues are expected to bring the high and mighty of State politics to the CEO's office, making the poll official enforce a set of rules of conduct.
Sources said the decision followed an incident in which an unidentified visitor took photographs inside the CEO's chamber without prior permission. "If permission is sought, photographs may be allowed. However, people have been using mobile phones and cameras in the office without the Chief Electoral Officer's knowledge. Hence, a strict ban has been imposed," sources in the CEO's office said.
The restrictions are expected to remain in force as part of heightened security and protocol in the run-up to the elections.
So, the next time one turns up at the CEO's office, they have to take into account the new set of rules the visitor is bound by.