Track record of Jharkhand in using money power in its “best” possible manner lands the State into a sensitive zone as far as polls are concerned. The Election Commission of India has deployed special and additional number of teams to keep a close eye on any illicit transaction taking place to influence voters and outcome of the ongoing general elections.
“We have appointed a number of observers to conduct the elections in a free and fair manner. Most of numbers of 30 expenditure related observers have been appointed as the Commission considers Jharkhand as expenditure sensitive,” said Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath on Sunday after meeting recognised political parties and reviewing security and other arrangements for the three-phase poll in the State.
Earlier, the EC had categorised six States including Nagaland, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Punjab and Arunachal Pradesh as Election Expenditure-Sensitive States.
This apart, the ECI has pressed into action 14 general observers, five police observers and three others for generating awareness among voters for as many as 24648 polling booths undergoing polls, starting from April 10.
Total 2.03 crore voters have been listed so far in the electoral rolls out of which 1.06 lakh are male while 99 lakh are female.
“We have instructed all the DEOs (District Electoral Officers) to maintain utmost neutrality. The Commission has also taken several steps to monitor money power over last four years. Besides video recording and check posts, we have formulated 295 flying squads. We have also identified some constituencies sensitive and special arrangements like putting more observers have been taken,” added Sampath.
The Commission has also deployed 1570 micro observers and so far has registered 256 FIRs against leaders and workers, seized cash in the tune of Rs 51 lakh, 66,000 bottles of liquor and other materials such as gifts worth Rs 49 lakh.
Mentioning about his meeting with representatives of political parties earlier, the CEC said that the Commission through them received some complaints about arrangements for the polls and others.
“29 parties came to discuss issues with us and we got complaints and inputs from them. One major complaint they have about DEOs limiting number of vehicles in any poll meeting. We have instructed the DEOs not to restrict number of vehicles or anything as anything and everything is going to be added into the account of candidates and it is up to them to use their fund in whatever manner they want. We just have to take care about the limit,” he said. The Commission also permitted political leaders to put reasonably sized party flags in their houses or party offices which do not create nuance.
The ECI this time also taking care about minimum basic facilities such as shelter from sun, drinking water and toilets at every polling booth as the amenities to the voters.
