ECI reviews poll preparedness, says committed to ensure peaceful, inducement free elections in Meghalaya

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJanuary 13, 2023

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar on Friday appealed to the people of the state to participate proactively in the forthcoming elections with full enthusiasm.

Addressing media persons, Kumar said the Commission is committed to ensure the conduct of a peaceful, transparent and inducement free elections in Meghalaya.

During their two day visit to the state, Kumar and other team of senior ECI delegation had met all political parties and taken their views, suggestions and inputs besides holding reviews with the chief secretary, director general of police (DGP), district magistrates, superintendents of police, state officials, central agencies and others.

“We have asked them to be very vigilant but general law and order is under control and peaceful and this is what they are expected to ensure during the election as well,” Kumar said.

He informed detailed meetings with the other enforcement agencies including excise, GST, revenue intelligence, income tax, enforcement directorate, airport authority, reserved bank of India, narcotics, railways etc.

According to him, the purpose behind this is that they will all come together and create a situation and an environment which ensures that elections are inducement free.

“There is no scope for the freebees to be distributed, the cash to move from one place to another or to be distributed, drugs which is a very serious issue are not transited from here or not consumed here. We have given directions to everybody and they will be on their job very strictly,” Kumar said.

He said that the narcotic bureau will also have a close look at the route which is used for the transit while the air intelligence unit will keep a check on all the planes or the choppers coming into the state and moving out of the state.

He said that the Commission has also reviewed and is aware of the situation along the inter-state border. “All the district officials from both the states have had detailed discussions…(therefore), it would be absolutely peaceful there is no need to worry or fear,” Kumar added.

The Election Commission has also directed all candidates with criminal background to publish in the newspapers and news channels regarding the cases registered against them.

“The Commission has mandated that each candidate if he has a criminal background must publish it in newspapers three times prominently and also in news channels that these are the cases against me so that the voters can make an informed choice. If he still wants to vote, that is the voter’s choice, our job is to put it in the public domain, publicize it as much as possible,” Kumar said.

Kumar said that all paramilitary forces, polling officials and voting machines will be randomized. “Nobody will know which booth it will go to as it is randomized. No paramilitary force will know which company is going where,” he also added.

On the alleged use of inducement by both ruling NPP and opposition AITC through their respective FOCUS and We Card schemes, the CEC said, “There are two things on this one is political parties have now as per the existing law and as per democratic practices have tried to make promises to the voters that is their right, it is also voters right to know what is being promised and also to an extent is it feasible or will it be implementable or not. As you know the debate is going on in the country in this aspect. But as of now the announcement cannot curb it in that way directly so when the MCC comes into play right now there is no MCC will look at all this whatever is permissible within existing law and instruction of the commission.”

With regards to the alleged failure of the NPP to file its election expenditures, Kumar said the party has already filed their election expenditures. He however admitted that the delay to file such election expenses by the various political parties in the country.

“And we have made the filing process far more robust so that all over the country not only this there are many who have not done it,” he said.

Regarding the complaint filed against a cabinet minister for allegedly distributing money to the people of Nongkrem, the CEC however said the case is not in his notice and that the CEO will be asked to respond on the matter.

“Whenever any complaint comes to us we ask again all the DEOs to properly register all the complaints and respond,” he said.