Gurugram deputy commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav, who is also the district election officer, on Friday emphasised the importance of adhering strictly to guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI) during the upcoming Haryana assembly elections, scheduled for October 1.
The Gurugram skyline. (HT File)
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Addressing a training meeting for returning officers (ROs) and assistant returning officers (AROs) from the Pataudi, Sohna, Gurugram, and Badshahpur assembly constituencies at the Mini Secretariat Auditorium, Yadav said that no lapses in following ECI’s directives will be tolerated. He urged officials to thoroughly review and implement all rules provided by the commission before carrying out any election-related tasks.
Yadav also directed ROs and AROs to ensure that all candidates are treated equally, and that the election process is conducted in full compliance with the commission’s regulations.
The DC highlighted the importance of securely handling electronic voting machines (EVMs).
“We have instructed that the movement of EVMs from storage to the strong rooms should be recorded via videography, and the information must be shared with political parties. On September 2, the first randomisation of EVMs will be conducted, and the machines will be allocated according to the assembly constituencies. EVMs and VVPATs will be stored in separate strong rooms for each of the four assembly constituencies at the Government Girls College campus, under strict CCTV surveillance and police guard,” he said.
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Yadav also outlined plans for the second phase of randomisation, where EVMs will be allocated to specific polling booths within each assembly constituency. He emphasised that transparency is key, and political parties should be informed about which machines are assigned to which booths, said officials.
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Yadav also outlined plans for the second phase of randomisation, where EVMs will be allocated to specific polling booths within each assembly constituency. He emphasised that transparency is key, and political parties should be informed about which machines are assigned to which booths, said officials.
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He directed election officials to ensure that all logistical arrangements, including vehicles equipped with GPS and police escorts for EVM movement, are in place. He also said that an ARO-level officer should be assigned to oversee this process.
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest.
Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents.
Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure.
Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing.
Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity.
Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations.
Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling.
A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.
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