Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) VS Sampath on Tuesday disclosed that the Commission had been examining an alleged violation of the model code of conduct by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi during an election rally in Indore few weeks ago.
He said that a delegation of Bharatiya Janata Party had met him in Delhi on Monday in this regard and assured that the law would take its own course. The CEC was here to review preparedness of the State Assembly elections due on November 25. Replying to a query regarding the BJP’s demand that the EC should make security arrangements for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in light of the explosions that took place in Patna on Sunday, the CEC said elections are not being conducted in Bihar.
A key aspect of the EC’s preparations is vulnerability mapping - to locate voters and areas which are under threat or may be influenced by money or muscle power. “We have identified 4200 hamlets, 1,54,000 voters as vulnerable and 14,950 booths as sensitive. Sixty seats are sensitive in terms of the expenditure by candidates,” he added.
The State has 4.65 crore voters who will vote at 53,896 booths, 4,738 of which will have the polling web cast. The State has completed the inclusion of photos for all registered voters, he added. Besides, 974 flying squads and 1004 static squads and Income Tax department’s Air Surveillance Units at airports to detect illegitimate cash or liquor, at least one Quick Response Team - comprising of a section each of Central Police Forces - will be deployed in all 230 assembly constituencies, EC sources clarified.
In meetings with political parties, Sampath said that many complaints on paid news and allurement of voters with alcohol were received. The ruling party leaders claimed that the model code of conduct (MCC) is being implemented quite strictly, while the Congress members alleged that there is no strictness of the Commission and demanded to implement MCC strongly.
To a query whether following the request of Jabalpur’s Congress corporator Amar Chand Bawaria to cover all lotus ponds as it resembled the symbol of the BJP and could influence voters, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Jaideep Govind clarified that his request has been denied. The CEC said the law of the land did not permit total prohibition for an extended period, as demanded. He added that directions had been given to Media Certification and Monitoring Committees to clear advertisements of parties within 24 hours. New regulations cover even ads on the internet.
Sampath said special description for the ‘None of the Above’ (NOTA) button would be designed that would work as symbol. He added that accredited journalists would enjoy exemption from suspension of arms licences during the poll period, in order to protect themselves.