The Election Commission of India on Wednesday declared three-phase lok Sabha elections in extremist-hit Jharkhand on April 10, 17 and 14 with the Chief Electoral Officer PK Jajoria seeking services of 11 choppers to airdrop polling personnel as well as materials in remote areas.
The general elections, startting from April 7, are scheduled to be conducted in nine phases across the country. On April 10, as many as five parliamentary constituencies — Chatra, Koderma, lohardaga, Palamau and Hazaribagh — will go to polls while polling in another five constituencies — Giridih, Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Singhbhum and Khunti — will take place in the third phase. Electorate of remaining four constituencies — Rajmahal, Dumka, Godda and Dhanbad — can exercise their franchise in the fourth phase of the elections i.e. on April 24.
Interestingly, for the first time in the history of parliamentary elections, electorate will be presented with the option of ‘None of The Above’ (NOTA) to express their dislike with candidates contesting elections.
“We have requisite number of electronic voting machines and NOTA will be at the bottom of the machine,” said Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) PK Jajoria while talking to mediapersons about poll preparations. Notably, notifications for the constituencies where polling will be conducted in second, third, fourth phases will be released on March 15, 19 and 29 correspondingly. While last date for filing nominations for constituencies that will be covered in second, third and fourth phase will be March 22, 26 and April 7 correspondingly.
On the other hand, the State police also vowed to ensure that elections especially in Naxal-infested areas are conducted without any hindrance and disruptions. The State police said that anti-Naxal operations, demining activities will be conducted in as many as eight districts of Jharkhand which are incidentally known for intense Naxal activity. The office of CEO has sent a request for as many as 11 choppers that will be pressed for ferrying man and materials in remote areas. Nonetheless, authorities are yet to assess sensitivity of a polling station and categorise them accordingly for force deployment.
“Those candidates who want to contest elections can do so without any fear. We will ensure their safety wherever they want to go for campaigning,” asserted IG (Operations) Ml Meena, who was also present at the press meet.
Significantly, the Commission this time introduced the mandatory service of providing an electorate a copy of the voter list bearing details contained in the voter list about the electorate at the door step. Booth level Officers (BlO) have been entrusted with the job which they are expected to complete three to seven days prior to polling date who will also prepare a list of people either dead or moved away from their present address and submit the same to authorities. The commission has put restrictions on altering the voters list.
“This should be treated as invitation to an electorate to come exercise their franchise,” maintained Jajoria adding “No names in the voters list shall be deleted without the Commission’s permission.” “The BlOs will be present at their respective polling stations with Form-6 (to facilitate registration),” continued the CEO.
With the election schedule announced and the model code of conduct coming into force, several committees have been set up to monitor expenditures as well as paid news. Under the ECI’s effort to curtail overspending and to bring transparency in the election expenditure all candidates are required to open a bank account and make election related transactions through the account. To bring relief to a candidate the Commission has increased the maximum expenditure for the lS elections to Rs 70 lakh. The cap on expenditure in previous election was Rs 40 lakh.
“I will conduct a meeting with all banks on this matter,” pointed out the CEO.