PIONEER INTERVIEW

With Assembly elections barely a month away,  Haryana Chief Electoral Officer Pankaj Agarwal said that the officers involved in election duty have been directed to make strenuous efforts at war footing to ensure maximum participation of citizens in the voting for the Assembly Elections scheduled for October 1. Elaborate arrangements are being made to ensure free, fair and transparent Assembly elections in the State. Deployment of 225 Companies of Central Armed Police Forces has been sought from the Ministry of Home Affairs for this Assembly election, out of which 70 have arrived so far, he added.  He said that the State Election Commission has received a letter demanding the postponement of the polls, from three political parties including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) citing long holidays. This issue has been forwarded to the Election Commission of India. ECI will take a final call on demands for postponing the Haryana poll, he added.

In an interview with The Pioneer, Agarwal talks about Assembly Election preparedness; Arrangements and deployment of security forces; Steps taken to increase vote percentage; and notices to Political Parties for MCC violations, among others.

The voting percentage in 2019 Lok Sabha and 2019 Vidhan Sabha elections was recorded 70 per cent and 68.20 per cent respectively in Haryana. However, vote percentage in Lok Sabha Election 2024 has fallen to about 65 per cent. What steps are being taken to increase vote percentage in the upcoming Assembly election?

Due to heatwave conditions, the vote percentage might have fallen during the Lok Sabha election 2024 in the State. Now, the State Assembly election will be held on October 1 and the State may experience pleasant weather on polling day. As people get the opportunity to vote once every five years, we hope that voters will come out in large numbers at polling stations to exercise their vote on polling day.
Moreover, the officers involved in election duty have been directed to make strenuous efforts at the war footing level to ensure maximum participation of citizens in the voting for the Assembly Elections. Officers concerned working hard to complete the necessary arrangements regarding the Assembly election. Every eligible voter must exercise their voting rights, and citizens are being sensitized for this purpose. We appeal to all voters to exercise their voting rights without temptation or fear.  
 

Citing the long weekend, BJP, INLD and other parties have submitted a letter demanding for postponing Haryana poll, to the State Election Commission. What is the status?

Three political parties -Bharatiya Janata Party, Indian National Lok Dal and Haryana Lok Shakti Party have written a letter to the State Election Commission to defer the polling by almost a week, apprehending low turnout given a host of holidays around the polling date (Saturday on September 28; Sunday on September 29; Polling Day - October 1; Gandhi Jayanti- October 2 and Maharaja Agrasen Jayanti -October 3). This issue is now before the Election Commission of India. ECI will take a final call regarding this issue.

About a month ago, Haryana Speaker Gian Chand Gupta met you and raked up the issue of bogus votes, stating that many who have died or shifted out of the constituency continue to figure in the electoral list. How many voters were removed and added to the voter's list after Lok Sabha election 2024? Can anyone still get their name added to the voter list?

Issues raised by any political leaders were thoroughly investigated. Action was taken accordingly. About 2.35 lakh new voters have been added in the final list published on August 27, while 1.72 lakh voters were removed. According to the final publication of the voter list, 2.02 crore voters in the State will be able to exercise their franchise, including 1.07 crore males, 95.12 lakh females, and 458 third-gender voters. Moreover, even if the name is not on the final voter list published on August 27, one can still apply to get their name added by filling out Form 6 through the BLO or by using the Voter Helpline app. Voters can get their names added up until September 2. The voter lists have been uploaded on the department's website, ceoharyana.gov.in, where anyone can download and check their name in the voter list. Furthermore, voters can check their status by calling the Voter Helpline number 1950.

Leaders of some political parties raise the issue of bogus voting in Rohtak and Sirsa involving government officials during the Lok Sabha poll. To avoid this and ensure fair and transparent election, what directions have you given to Government officials deputed on election duties?  

All the Government Officers and employees have been directed to ensure the fair, transparent and smooth completion of election-related tasks. The officers and employees of the State have been directed to keep themselves away from any kind of political activities, such as campaigning for political parties, becoming a booth agent, election agent, or counting agent.  According to Section 129 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, no officer or clerk appointed to perform any duty in connection with an election shall in the conduct or the management of the election do any act (other than the giving of vote) for the furtherance of the prospects of the election of a candidate. Under Section 134, anyone found guilty of violating official duties related to elections (election duty) can be punished. Additionally, under Rule 9 of the Haryana Civil Services (Conduct of Employees) Rules, 2016, no government employee shall be a member of any political party or any organisation participating in politics, nor shall they participate in any political movement or activity. If any employee is found violating these rules, appropriate action will be taken against the concerned employee as per the rules.

How many polling stations have been identified as vulnerable and critical?

A total of 20,629 polling booths have been set up for the upcoming Assembly elections in the State. Senior Police officers are still working in categorising polling stations as vulnerable and critical. Data regarding the same will soon be released. To ensure peaceful elections, we have requested the Ministry of Home Affairs to deploy 225 companies of central armed police forces during the Assembly election in the State.  70 companies of central armed police forces have already arrived. More will soon arrive. Haryana Police and Home Guard personnel will also be deployed to strengthen security during the elections. Moreover, directions have been issued to all Returning Officers to personally inspect polling stations and ensure that all basic public facilities, such as drinking water, electricity, and toilet facilities, are available.

Has the State Election Commission served notices to political parties over violation of MCC?

District Returning officers have been strictly directed to ensure strict implementation of Model Code of Conduct in their jurisdictional limit. Additionally, we have formed several teams to keep a close watch on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp groups, and X.  A complaint has been received from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) regarding a recent post on X (formerly Twitter) by the @BJP4Haryana handle. The complaint alleges that a campaign video posted by the BJP features a child, which AAP claims is a violation of Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines and the Model Code of Conduct. We have taken cognisance of the matter and a show cause notice has been issued to the State President of BJP Haryana, to explain their position in the matter, take corrective action and submit its response by August 29.