JOIN USThe Election Commission of India (ECI) will be deputing senior IPS officers from other states to monitor security arrangements for the Assembly elections, likely to be held in May, as part of its measures to ensure free and fair polls in Karnataka.
This will be the first time that special observers would be deployed specifically to monitor the law and order situation. Hitherto, ECI had been appointing IAS officers as general observers for the polls.
“We have made it clear that utmost honesty is expected from officials involved in election management. Lapses will not be tolerated irrespective of the rank of the official. The Commission will not compromise on the basic concept of impartiality and fair poll”, Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath told reporters after a two-day preparatory exercise for the polls in Bangalore on Saturday.
Action against freebies
He said the ECI will ensure strict enforcement of the model code of conduct and take stringent action against those distributing money, liquor and other inducements.
The EC has directed authorities to transfer officials serving in their hometowns for more than three years to ensure free and fair polls.
To a question on mass transfer of officials before the model code of conduct comes into force, Sampath said he has discussed the issue with the chief secretary.
The EC has directed the excise commissioner to keep a vigil to curb liquor menace.
Paid news
Sampath said district-level committees headed by jurisdictional deputy commissioners and a high-level state committee headed by the Chief Electoral Officer will be constituted to keep a vigil on “paid news”.
He said every candidate will have to open a separate account for drawing election expenses. Transactions above Rs 20,000 will have to be through cheques.
Sampath along with Election Commissioners H S Brahma and Nasim Zaidi have been in Bangalore since Friday to assess the preparation for the Assembly polls and ascertain views of political parties.
On Saturday, the panel reviewed district-wise preparedness, held interactions with the jurisdictional deputy commissioners and superintendents of police.
They also held discussions with Chief Secretary S V Ranganath, DG&IGP Lalrokhuma Pachau and senior officials of the Income Tax Department.