Taking a note of the concerns and suggestions raised by different political parties and organisations, the Election Commission of India on Tuesday assured to put in place an effective mechanism to ensure free and fair polls to the Assam legislative Assembly next year.
The full bench of the Commission, who landed in Guwahati on Monday on a two-day visit, said that the Commission, after meeting different political parties and organisations, have asked the District Magistrates (DMs) and Superintendent of Police (SPs) to start the vulnerability mapping exercise to ensure a free and fair polls in the State.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Nasim Zaidi was accompanied by two other Election Commissioners including A K Joti and O P Rawat.
“We have been briefed by the political parties and different organizations about the role that money and muscle power can play in the upcoming elections. They have also mentioned that the Election Commission of India should ensure that all the State Government officials involved in the process of election should remain neutral,” said Zaidi.
“We have asked the DMs and SPs to have intensive scrutiny of hooligans and criminals, who were found involved in incidents of violence and all these persons should be kept under watch. Further, we have also asked the DMs and SPs to execute all the pending non-bailable warrants and start the process of deposition of arms and that and action for seizure of illegal arms should be started from now on,” Zaidi said adding that they are also going to monitor all incidents, which has political overtones taking place before the upcoming polls in Assam.
He further said that the ECI will try to ensure that Central police force is deployed in all the polling booths in Assam for free and fairness of the polls.
Zaidi admitted that most of the political parties have urged the Commission to hold the elections well before the Bihu festival that starts from mid April. “We have taken note of this and a decision will be taken accordingly,” Zaidi said.
The CEC said that as of now there are 1.92 crore approx voters in the State till October 12 this year including about six lakhs new voters between the age of 18 to 19 years. He said that special arrangements will be made to ensure endorsement of these young voters in the electoral rolls.
He further said that the ECI will also lay stress on the Electors’ Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) and that each and every voter in Assam will be given an EPIC before the 2016 polls.