The Chief Election Commissioner of India, Nasim Zaidi made it clear that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s programme at Indian Military Academy in Dehradun on January 21 would be under the scanner of the election commission. “We would monitor things to see whether there is any violation of the model code of conduct being in force in the State,” he said while addressing the mediapersons in Dehradun on Thursday.
He further said that they would do everything to ensure that the Supreme Court’s ruling to stop the candidates from seeking votes on the lines of religions and castes is implemented in letter and spirit during the round of elections in five States.
He sounded displeased over the performance of excise department officials from top down while dealing with the possibility of the candidates influencing voters through distribution of liquor as apprehended by some political parties, saying that he had asked the Chief Secretary to ensure that things improve in the next four to five days. “If things do not improve ECI would take actions against the errant excise officials on its own. We hope that CS would monitor things regarding movement of illicit liquor movement,” he said.
Election commission being determined to provide a level playing field for all the political parties in the contest, Zaidi said that they would not brook any breach of the commission’s directive.
Taking a stern note of the State Government releasing hardened criminals on paroles ahead of the election, he said, if so, such releases might trigger fear among the common people. “Political parties should review things seriously,” he stressed.
To dissuade political parties from pitching camp offices outside the polling booths, the Election Commission has decided to merge these expenses in the accounts of the candidates, he said.
“Even private advertising agencies have been asked to give details about the hoardings they are putting up on behalf of the candidates and the parties to the election commission. The municipal authorities would decide the places where these hoardings can be put up,” he said.
In view of the likely inimical weather in some parts of the state during the electioneering, ECI has asked the state government to make arrangements to stave off any untoward incident. “In case the weather goes wrong the polling personnel and the voters would be ferried up to the polling booths by the district administration concerned,” Zaidi said.State government and public works department have been directed to be in the state of readiness to deal with unprecedented heavy rains, landslides, breach of roads and snowfalls to ensure that the access to the polling stations remains unhindered, he said.
ECI has deployed over 100 IT officials along with the narcotics department officials at several places, including Jollygrant Airport, Sahastradhara helipad and Pantnagar Airport. “We are closely monitoring the money transfers in the banks,” he added.
“ECI has directed the state’s election officials to address the concerns of the political parties and to instill confidence in the electorate to help them exercise their franchise without fear, coercion, intimidation or inducement and to provide level playing field to one and all,” he said.
ECI was informed that 3,31,529 defacements have been removed from public and private properties and 59 notices have been issued on the matter. ECI has also issued comprehensive social media instructions with the CEOs and DEOs being directed to enforce the regulations of social media.
Mobile app based complaint system regarding abuse of money will be activated in each district. People will be encouraged to file complaints and any feedback/information. A 24 X 7 control room has been setup and a 24 X 7 toll free number, 1950 at all district control rooms and 1800-180-4227 at the income tax office control rooms with multiple phone lines has been launched.
A dedicated email id has been created and made operational too. These numbers and email id have been widely publicized through print and electronic media.
Besides, CAPF will be used for confidence building measures jointly by the DEO and SSP to reassure the voters and instil faith and confidence in them. Daily route plan of CAPF must be planned in advance and review meeting to be conducted by SSP on day to day basis. The CAPF vehicles must have proper signage and public address system. 79 Inter-State barriers and 71 other check- points have been activated. The Commission has also instructed that strict vigil must be maintained to check the cross-border smuggling of drugs, liquor and other illicit items from the neighbouring States. International borders in border districts with Nepal and China and eight sensitive district of western UP (Saharanpur, Muzafarnagar, Bijnor, Muradabad, Rampur, Barelly, pilibhit and Khiri) and also inter-state borders will be appropriately subjected to surveillance.
The commission directed that action against all identified trouble-mongers/anti-social elements/badcharacters/goondas, proclaimed offenders and bail jumpers must be taken immediately in order to prevent them from vitiating the election process. Comprehensive inspection of jails will be conducted by the jail department to stop the activities of criminals inside and outside.
The commission has directed that webcasting / CCTVcoverage/videography would be provided at border checkposts and identified PSs.