Election Commission of India on Thursday virtually halted the Akali-BJP combine tracks from doling out sops to the Punjab electors through blue rations cards, and other means.
The poll panel has issued directions to the State chief secretary to disallow the use of blue ration cards issued under the National Food Security Mission with the pictures of the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and State Food and Civil Supplies Minister Adeish Partap Singh Kairon.
Zaidi maintained that in case, foodgrain is to be distributed, it should be distributed by the officials of the food department.
"Having picture of political functionaries is a violation the model code of conduct and disturbs the level playing field," said the Chief Election Commissioner Naseem Zaidi, on the second day of full poll panel's State visit to review poll preparedness.
Punjab is going for polls on February 4. The Commission, during past two days, reviewed preparedness with deputy commissioners, commissioners of police, SSPs, DIGs or IGs, central armed police force coordinator, DGP, Home Secretary, Chief Secretary and other senior officers of the State.
Separately, commission has also met senior official of Income-Tax, Narcotics, Excise and State representative of Enforcement agencies, besides the representatives of all political parties.
At the same time, he said that the political mileage out of much-touted Tirath Yatra scheme cannot be taken "without affecting the religious sentiments".
Besides, the Commission has also asked to "put on hold" all the work carried out by the political appointees on the State Government's various statutory boards.
"Political parties have informed us that the State Government has made a large number of politically motivated appointments of party functionaries to various statutory boards, which are now misusing the official machinery for political mileage," said Zaidi.
He added, "We have directed the Chief Secretary that all statutory functions would be discharged by the secretaries in case there is some urgency, otherwise, such functions should be put on hold till the imposition of model code of conduct."
Following the complaints by the political parties regarding undue interference by the halqa in-charges in many districts, poll watchdog made it clear that the "institution of halqa in-charge" shall not be allowed to unduly influence officials and disturb the level playing field.
"If need be, reshuffle of lower level officials will be done within the districts and outside," he said.
Acting on the complaints by the political parties regarding "selective security cover" to political leaders being used to intimidate voters, the Commission has asked the state Director General of Police (DGP), Additional DGP (security) to review such cases where unauthorised security cover or gunmen have been provided.
"The DMs and SSPs have been directed that the cases of gunners or security personnel accompanying various political functionaries without having been duly authorised by threat assessment committee must not be allowed to vitiate process forthwith so that poll process is not vitiated," he added.
"Commission has directed that security personnel given to the political persons will not be allowed to be misused to intimidate the voters," he said, adding that 304 police personnel have been withdrawn from security duties of political leaders.
CENTRAl FORCES DEPlOYMENT
Zaidi said that this election would see unprecedented large deployment of central forces in Punjab, "It would be much much more than the previous elections…all political stations will be covered… central forces would be written on their vehicle having mike facility, public address system, flag marches would be conducted…you will get to see in the coming days," he said without disclosing the exact number.
He said that the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) have already started arriving, and would be used for confidence building measures to reassure the voters and instil faith and confidence in them regarding the fool-proof security and electoral arrangements.
IT DEPT READY WITH STRATEGY TO CHECK CASH INFlOW
Anticipating huge movement of money through banking channels, Zaidi said that the Income Tax Department is well prepared with effective strategy and have made fool-proof arrangements to monitor these suspicious banking transactions.
"Any large clandestine banking transaction is under IT lens," he added.
IT department, in coordination with adjoining states, has already carried out nine surveys, four search and seizure operations, cash interception in 26 cases and inquiries in 200 cases resulting in seizure of Rs 10 crores and detection of black money to the tune of Rs 200 crores.
TOTAl SEIZURE WORTH RS 67.91 SO FAR
Till date, the commission has seized cash of Rs 3.39 crore, besides 14273 litre liquor amounting to Rs 14.27 lakh, 37 kg opium worth Rs 37 lakh, 3777 kg poppy husk worth Rs 1.51 crore, and 25 kg heroin worth Rs 62.5 crore.
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