The Election Commission on Thursday said that the number of forces to be deployed during the Assembly elections will be thrice more than those deployed five years back, admitting that security lapses during elections were the biggest challenge in Jharkhand.
The arrangement this time also includes clearer directions about carrying EVMs in extremist-affected areas after polls and standard operating procedure (SOP) to be followed by security personnel and poll officials.
Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath revealed the plan after assessing all poll preparedness with top notch officials of the State, including Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, IGs, DIGs, Divisional Commissioners, DCs and SPs besides, BSNl and electricity department.
"Security is one of the biggest challenges for us in Jharkhand along with enhancing voters' turnout which is directly or indirectly linked to it. We have made arrangement for security forces three times more than what we had done during last polls if we look in terms of number of electorates and phases of polls," said VS Sampath, setting a target of 75 percent voters' turn out this election.
The issue is indeed a matter of concern as during the lok Sabha polls in April this year Dumka had seen worst ever Naxal attack on a polling party killing eight that included five policemen. The EC has also expressed worry over overlooking the SOPs set for conducting in lWE areas and passed stricter guidelines this time for the officials to follow.
"The incident happened in Dumka was due to lapses in adhering to the SOPs and those were not followed. We have given fresh SOP for the officials about their conduct and behaviour keeping in view the Dumka incident," said he, adding that in disturbed areas, most of them are falling in the first phase undergoing polls on November 25. The EVMs would strictly be taken to the strong rooms soon after the polling ends.
"If it is not possible in extremist-affected areas, then we have made a cluster of 15-20 booths with heavy security deployment and made provisions for the candidates for appointing their men as well," said Sampath who was flanked by other two Commissioners HM Brahma and Nasim Zaidi and Jharkhand CEO PK Jajoria. 2.07 crore electorates are enrolled out of them 1.09 crore are male. 99.97 per cent of voters have been issued photo identity cards.
The ECI has also instructed candidates of the political parties to keep local administration in the loop before visiting any disturbed areas for campaigning so that adequate security arrangement can be made. A vehicle to one of the office-bearers of a political party would be provided to every district for carrying campaign materials.
Pointing out some of the complaints made by the representatives of political parties during a meeting on Wednesday, Sampath said that the Commission had found no merit in the demand made for stopping Dhoti-Sari-lungi scheme. "We have examined the issue and come to the conclusion that the scheme has been budgeted and passed by the legislature before the poll dates were announced and even launched as well. No new names have been identified to be added into the list of beneficiaries and thus we cannot interfere," clarified the CEC.
On the prohibitory front, the Commission would keep a close vigil on the circulation of inflammatory and obnoxious materials through social media, especially 'WhatsApp'.
Also flying squad would act on any misuse of money or liquor within 30 minutes after any complained regarding this is lodged through the control room. Single window clearance would be given to the applications coming for any rally or meeting from the parties.
The elderly and handicapped electorates can drive their vehicles very near to the polling stations which would be equipped with all basic amenities. Every voter would be provided with voters' slip five days ahead of the poll day. The Commission has clarified that the polling day would be a paid holiday for all establishments irrespective of their size and nature and arrangements have been made to ensure near complete postal ballot voting by issuing election duty certificate to the poll personnel.
Also for the first time, 2668 booths spreading in seven constituencies-Dhanbad, Jamshedpur East, Jamshedpur West, Bokaro, Ranchi, Hatia and Kanke-would use EVMs fitted with voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT). The machine has the facility to generate a slip of the voted candidate which would be stored in a separate box for further verifications.