The State Election Commission has asked the UP government to invoke the Gangsters Act and the National Security Act (NSA) against trouble makers for ensuring free and fair elections for the 59,000 posts of village pradhan in the state. The second phase of Panchayat polls (for electing village pradhans) is beginning in four phases from November 29.
The SEC has expressed concern over the laxity in law and order during the first phase of Panchayat elections in October. The SEC has asked the police to take effective action at the grass roots against anti-socials and trouble makers instead of merely lodging FIRs against them.
The Commission was also concerned over inaction by the state in complaints lodged in poll-related violence and violation of model code of conduct. In a report to the UP government, it has said the police did not take action in more than 40 percent of the FIRs lodged durin the first phase of Panchayat polls in October.
On Tuesday, State Election Commission, SK Agarwal said, “Conducting the second phase of polls free, fair and violence free for over 59,000 posts of village pradhans will be a daunting task for the commission. For the elections of over 59,000 posts of village pradhan, the number of candidates is expected to be close to a million.”
He added, “The UP government has sought Central Para Military Sorces from the Center and we have the assurance that the forces will be provided. West UP districts are communally sensitive and we want the Center to provide the CPMF before the polls so that they could be deployed on time and trouible could be preempted. Since the polls of village pradhan is more competitive the trouble makers should be booked under Gangsters Act and the NSA.”
The UP government will deploy 95,000 cops, 139 PAC companies, one lakh chowkidars, 90,000 home guards and 13,000 PRD jawans.