For the 2004 Assembly election, 25 companies of Central Reserve Police Force was deployed. This time round, the number is expected to be much higher. The decision of the Central Election Commission (CEC) to conduct the election in three phases, instead of two, is itself an indication of a tighter security cover proposed for the exercise, said an Election Commission source.
Though the CEC, on the advice of the State administration, decides on the level of security, political parties and their leaders are puzzled.
Congress Coordination and Election Committee Chairman S M Krishna wondered about the three phases and said the election could have been held in a single phase as no other state is going to polls. Central troops could have been rushed to the State. Campaign Committee Chairman Siddaramaiah was none too perturbed and said, Gujarat with lesser number of Assembly seats than Karnataka also faced three-phase elections.
First time
“This is the first time a three-phase poll is being held in the State. We will face it,” he said, sounding upbeat.
Many potential candidates, sick of waiting to know the poll dates and wishing to get it all over, took the three-part decision in their stride. Former Basavangudi MLA K Chandrashekar believes a spread out election facilitates more focussed canvassing by political parties and fair share of exposure for individual candidates. Better security also meant a more free and fair environment for the electors. However, any major event occurring between the phases, such as the death of a popular leader, could alter reality to a sympathy wave overnight, he noted.
Fair play
The Election Commission itself is smug in the thought that it can ensure better fair play, including keeping tabs on campaign spending.
Expenditure observers will be deployed shortly, said a senior officer while admitting it is no secret that both political parties and candidates have mastered the art of ‘devolved spending’.
The gap between the first phase of poll and the counting of votes will be the longest this time but safe keeping of ballot boxes is not an issue as they will be stored in rooms sealed in the presence of political party representatives and Central Security Forces posted on guard. Candidates may also post their own security.