This time Election Commission's Thrust Is To Bring New Voters to Poll Booth

The Election Commission of India has recently swung into action to ensure free and fair  polls in April and May this year .  The EC comprising the Chief Election Commissioner, Mr. V.S. Sampat,  and Election Commissioners  Mr. H.S. Brahma and Mr. Nasim Ahmed Zaidi held wide ranging meetings with political parties and election machinery in Maharashtra on Thursday

 and Friday. The Commission met with the national and state-level political parties on Thursday here in Mumbai, while it held extensive meetings with the State Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, DG Police, DG Income Tax and senior electoral officers on Friday, to assess the level of preparedness.

Addressing a press conference at the end of their two day Maharashtra tour, the CEC Mr. Sampat said that the commission is doing its best to ensure higher voter turnout in Maharashtra. “Maharashtra does not have  a great record of voter participation. The state which has significant urban population has potential to do much better” he remarked.  

CEC informed that a special thrust has been laid on new voters registration. He said a special camp was launched on March 9^th in which 6.8 lakh applications were received.  A total of 16 lakh new applications have been received and 80% of which have been processed so far.  Mr. Sampat said that in all, there are 8.03 crore voters in Maharashtra and 92% of them have been issued Electronic Photo Identity Cards – EPIC.   

CEC informed that to ensure participation of voters without fear, vulnerability  maping has been carried out at such centres were voters may face some difficulty in casting votes for various reasons. To prevent intimidation of voters,  such centres are being equipped with Central Police Force, video surveillance, web-casting and supervision by micro observers. 

CEC informed that for the first  time voter ID slips will be given by the district election machinery.  Earlier such slips were distributed by political parties. Mr Sampat  also informed that basic minimum facilities like shade and shelter, ramp, drinking water, toilet etc would be provided at polling stations.

 Mr. Sampat said that the Election Commission has given strict instructions to electoral officers to apply election laws, model code of conduct and expenditure control norms in  a non partisan manner without fear or favour.  He said, single window service has been set up for granting permission to political parties for holding rallies. To ensure transparency, such permissions are being granted strictly on first-come-first-served basis.

Mr. Sampat said the Election Commission is also very much concerned about the prevalence of paid news and appropriate action is being taken to monitor and deal with such incidents. He said Media Certification and Monitoring Committees have been set up at all the districts.  CEC also informed that social Media has also been brought under the model code of conduct.

Speaking about the relief for hailstorm affected people in Maharashtra, Mr. Sampat said Election Commission has asked the district administration to take up the relief activity on priority, along with the election work. He however added that relief would be distributed by the official machinery alone without involving any political leaders.

Elections in Maharashtra will be held in three phases on April 10, 17 and 24.  The nomination process has been completed for the first phase of elections to be held in Nagpur, Bhandara-Gondia, Gadchiroli-Chimur, Chandrapur and Yavatmal-Washim, Buldhana, Akola, Amravati, Wardha, Ramtek,. A total of 201 candidates are left in fray to contest the above 10 Lok Sabha seats.