The State election commission has sounded alert against the possible use of money and muscle in the election of the chairman of the district panchyat scheduled on January 7. The SEC has directed the district magistrates and district police chiefs to keep a close watch on the situation and take immediate action on receipt on complaint. The Sec has asked the officials of the districts to take care to prevent horse trading during the election and safety and security of the candidate and the voters. The SEC said come what may the election process of the district panchyat should be free, fair and peaceful.
The pancbnyat poll panel also directed the district administration to ensure proper security to the candidates and the voters in the election of district panchyat. The commission directed the police to provide security to the voters and candidates if they seek it. The poll panel said it’s for the district magistrate and superintendent of police to make an assessment of the threat perception about the person seeking security or who required security.
The SEC on Thursday held meeting with the DM/SPs of 36 districts through video conferencing and issued the directions. SEC had held similar video conferencing with the district magistrates and SPs of 32 districts on Wednesday. Principal Secretary, home Devasheesh panda, ADG, law and order and other senior officials of the home and police department were present during the video conferencing.
The election of the chairman of the district panchyat will be held on January 7. The nomination papers will be filed onJanuary 1. The scrutiny and withdrawal of the papers will be done on the same day.
The district penchant elections are being held in all the districts barring Gautam Buddh nagar district. Over 3,000 elected members of the district panchyat constitute the Electoral College for the election of the chairman district panchyat.
A SEC official said here that the commission has received complaints from several districts that the voters are being intimidated and threatened to cast their vote for a particular candidate. The official said there is no dearth of reports about the cash and other inducements being offered to the voters by the candidates. He said most of such complaints have been received from Western UP districts.
Meanwhile the UP Congress today lodged a complaint with the SEC alleging that the ruling Samajwadi party is using strong arm tactics in Aurriya district to win the election of the district panchyat. Satyadeo Tripathi, chairman of the media department of the state Congress said in his complaint that Deepu Singh, candidate for the chairman of district panchyat is receiving threats from the rivals. The Congress leader said Deepu Singh has been warned of dire consequences including framing in false charges if he fails to withdraw his papers. The Congress has demanded from the SEC to direct the district administration of Aurriya to provide adequate security cover to the candidate Deepu Singh.