Chief Election Commiss-ioner VS Sampath on Saturday said that the Commission would eagerly await to see the outcome of the ‘None Of The Above’ (NOTA) option provided in EVMs used by voters as it is being implemented for the first time in the Assembly polls in Chhattisgarh.
He was replying to a specific query regarding possible intimidation of voters by insurgents in Bastar during the Assembly polls which might force them to press the ‘NOTA’ button in fear of any reprisal from the Maoists. Sampath said that the Bastar region consumed a larger share of the time of the Commission in ensuring full poll preparedness due to existence of critical polling stations in the insurgency-infested region.
“We are looking into security arrangements required in the interior parts of Bastar where there is a threat to the life of voters and the polling teams,” he said. Sampath said that the Commission is keeping a close watch on the security arrangements being made in Bastar region while keeping the safety of the local community in mind.
Regarding his meeting with the representatives of political parties last evening in the city, the CEC said that a number of constructive suggestions as well as complaints were received from political parties. “There were complaints regarding misuse of government machinery while the ruling party complained about the hurdles being caused to the implementation of some of the ongoing government programmes due to enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct,” he said.
“We have clarified that the Government programmes concerning child and health should be made to go on without any disruptions,” Sampath said. The political parties have also feared that distribution of liquor would play a dominant role in the polls and urged the Election Commission to take stringent action, he said. There were also complaints that there was a delay being encountered in receiving permission for holding rallies for which it was stated that ‘a single window clearance system’ shall be implemented for dealing with such requests, Sampath said.