Surekha is an officer in-charge of ensuring free and fair elections in an assembly constituency in a state.

Solution:

(a) Election campaign − For this, Surekha will have to focus on seeing that the candidates do not bribe or threaten the voters; appeal to them in the name of caste or religion; use government resources for election campaign, and spend more than 10 lakh rupees to fund their campaigns. In addition to this, she will have to see that places of worship are not used for election propaganda; that ministers do not use government vehicles for their campaign, and that they do not take major policy decisions after the elections are announced.

(b) Polling day − For this, Surekha will have to ensure that incidents of rigging and booth capturing do not take place.

(c) Counting day − For this, Surekha will have to see that the agents of all the candidates are present to ensure that counting is done properly.