Car and home has become my office: Shashikant Senthil

Mangaluru: On one side, parties and candidates are working hard for their parties’ success. They are conducting intensive promotion and political techniques. On the other side, the entire responsibility of avoiding any confusion and illegal activity to occur and for the smooth functioning of assembly elections lies on the shoulders of the district commissioner.

From the day the election date was announced till the day of election, a district commissioner also works as the district election officer and many people are curious on how the DC successfully delivers on both the duties. Dakshina Kannada District Commissioner Shashikant Senthil spoke to ‘Udayavani’ in response to this curiosity.

Democracy festival

Conducting elections is the largest event in a democracy. Truly this is a huge festival and should be made into a successful one. And to realize this, our team of officers’ are working tirelessly.

Most of the work in the car

“Most of my work occurs in the car I travel in. While travelling in the car, most of my work gets done on the mobile. As soon as I wake up in the morning I hold talks with the RO’s. When I’m in the office, I give importance to other works. I conduct meetings with officers of various departments and give directions. The responsibility as district commissioner and election commission in-charge, is carried with equal importance.”

Everything according to the time table

“In the night, as soon as I reach home, I prepare a chart scheduling time for the next day’s tasks. As the district chief election officer, to me, my car and house is the DC office.”

Parties are cooperating

“Party members are conducting promotions as per the law. Immediately after the announcement of the election, party members have appropriately responded to the work plan of the district administration. Therefore, it was possible to freely conduct campaign programmes. At other places, this situation is rare.”

The also-rans should be appreciated

“Along with the duty of being a DC, I have to handle the responsibility as an election in-charge. To conduct an election without mistakes is difficult, but it is important to conduct an honest election. Instead of the victors coming to meet and inform me that the election was a success, I want the also-rans to tell me that the election was conduct perfectly. This is my aim. “

Honest officer’s team

“I am honestly providing motivation and inspiration to all the officers. All our officers are delivering their duty by keeping faith on our law, constitution and democracy. The grandeur of the district is that, everywhere mature officers are taking care of the work. In this way, election work is running smoothly.”