The Election Commission of India has said that it was ready for the Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh and was satisfied with the law and order and preparations in the state.
The EC also indicated that for free and fair conduct of the elections, it was keeping a close watch on bureaucrats and police officers involved in poll and related duties.
Refusing to comment on the expected date of announcement of the poll schedule, Deputy Election Commissioner Vijay Deo said in lUcknow on Thursday that the `elections will be held very soon’.
The Deputy EC, who was on a two-day tour of the state to review poll preparations, met officers of lucknow division on Thursday. He has already held such meetings with District Magistrates and SSP / SPs of the districts of Varanasi, Allahabad and Kanpur divisions.
Addressing a press conference in lukcnow on Thursday, Vijay Deo said, “We expect that within 24 hours of the announcement of poll schedule and enforcement of the model code of conduct, the administration will remove all hoardings, banners and other publicity material put up by different parties and flying squads, static squads will be active across the state to prevent transportation of liquor and illicit weapons.’’
Replying to a question on law and order situation in the state Deo said, “The EC is competent to ensure the compliance of its instructions to the state government officials. The EC is taking required measures to create fear free atmosphere for the free and fair conduct of polls. We are also conducting vulnerability mapping of each Assembly segment of UP to ensure free and fair polling in the state,’’ said the senior EC official.
“The EC will keep a close watch on all political activities including campaign by political leaders to ensure that model code of conduct is not violated,’’ he asserted.
Asked about the impact of demonetization on UP poll, Deo said “The EC would strictly enforce the ceiling on poll expenditure by candidates. There is no limit on expenditure by political parties, it’s only on candidates. The Commission would focus only on candidates and besides expenditure observers, micro observers will also keep a watch on expenditure incurred by candidates of different parties.’’
Taking a serious view of attempts by criminals lodged in jails to disrupt the poll process by use of mobile phone, the EC official said, “This is the thrust area for EC and this is completely unacceptable. The poll panel will do frequent enforcements to check this menace.’’
On the deployment of forces during the UP polls, the EC official said, “There will be appropriate mix of Central forces and UP Police. The EC would ensure maximum availability of Central Para military Forces (CPMF) in UP for the elections. Besides, installations of CCTV on sensitive polling booths, web casting and deployment of micro observers willbe done.’’
Deo said, “The Commission is in the process of evolving a Standard Operating Procedure for time-bound probe and trial of those accused of violating the Model Code of Conduct and other cases lodged during election period. In each district, a committee comprising District Magistrate and SSP / SP is proposed to be set up for time-bound disposal of such cases.”