The State election Commission (SEC) has expressed deep concern over repeated defiance of its directives for the peaceful conduct of the panchayat polls by the district administration, officials of the police and excise departments.
The State election commissioner SK Agarwal in a circular to all the district magistrates, divisional commissioners, zonal IGs and DIGs on Sunday said RsRsit’s unfortunate that despite the repeated directives by the commission, due action has not been taken by the most of the district magistrates, police and excise department officials, if effective action is not taken within the timeframe then it will be difficult for the commission to conduct free and fair polls’’.
RsRsIt has come to the notice of the Commission that the prospective candidates are touring their respective constituencies along with huge fleet of vehicles without obtaining the prior permission of the district administration. They are also freely distributing liquor to the electorate without any let or hindrance. The Commission has also been informed that no enforcement action has been taken by the police and the excise department for checking the illegal distillation of the country liquor and smuggling of alcohol’’, said SK AGarwal, adding RsRs the commission is of the opinion that the required action has not been taken to check the manufacture and distribution of illicit weapons and deposition of the licensed arms with the police stations’’.
The Commissioner listing the prerequisites for the free and fair elections said RsRseffective check on the illegal distillation of the country liquor, the existing such disleleries be immediately destroyed, enforcement against the anti social and undesirable elements and effective check on the smuggling of alcohol from the neighbouring states and the smugglers be brought to justice’’. He added RsRs the screening committee in each district comprising of the district magistrate and Superintendent of police should work without any delay to ensure that licensed arms are deposited in police stations’’.
The Commissioners reminded the field officers that during the recent meeting of the DM, SP, Commissioners and IG/DIGs, clear directives were issued to keep a close watch on all the issues listed above and effective action must be ensured before the first phase of polling for the panchayat elections.
The Commissioner said RsRs I am writing to you with the hope that you realize your constitutional obligation and without any delay to the best of your capacity and integrity you will ensure that polls are held in free, fair and peaceful atmosphere.
The panchayat elections are to be held in four phase in the state on October 9, October 13, October 17 and October 29. Counting of votes will be held on November 1.