The Election Commission on Saturday flagged the issue of “hate speeches” and plunging standards of political discourse during campaigning with the parties, in the backdrop of personal attacks by leaders in the recent Assembly polls.
At the closed-door meeting, the political parties agreed that the issue had to be addressed. But most of the six national parties and the 49 regional parties opposed the suggestion of the poll panel to hike security deposit for contesting candidates and seeking a ‘no dues’ certificate from parties operating from Government accommodations.
At present, a candidate has to deposit a security of `10,000 for Assembly polls and `25,000 for lok Sabha polls which is forfeited in case the contestant gets less that one-sixth of the votes polled.
There were also divergent views on the use of ‘totaliser’, a machine with mixes votes from various polling stations and which EC feels would further protect voters’ identity during counting of votes.
At the closed-door meeting, the Commission also took up the issue of ‘indirect campaigning’ in areas which go to polls in a multi-phased election.
Meanwhile, after the removal of 37 officials including a District Magistrate and four Superintendents of Police two days back, the Election Commission today removed another IPS official Bharati Ghosh in poll-bound West Bengal following complaints from Opposition parties.