EC makes political rallies easier

Sets up single-window clearance for holding campaign activities

Political parties planning rallies and procession might get some relief from the ‘strict’ Election Commission in the coming days.

With the political parties crying foul over the commission’s ‘strictness’ in the matter, the Chief Electoral Office has decided to provide single window clearance to parties seeking permission for such events.

Election Commission officials said political parties applying for permission to hold rallies and processions in Delhi would soon be able to get clearance from all relevant agencies at the Chief Electoral Office itself.

“A senior ACP rank officer was attached with the electoral office to give clearance to such events from the point of view of law and order and traffic. However, they had to go to different offices to get other celarances.

So now on, we have decided that representatives from fire department, land owning agencies and even electrical department would also be available here,” Chief Nodal Officer Ankur Garg said. The Election Commission has sent notices to some political leaders over the last few days for violating norms.

Meanwhile, in an attempt to monitor candidates’ electioneering expenditure, the commission has started monitoring all financial transactions above Rs 1 lakh through bank accounts, apart from keeping a tab on newly opened bank accounts.

Garg said agencies such has banks and the Income Tax department have been asked to keep a tab on all transactions of over Rs 1 lakh, particularly when carried out through bank accounts which had not been active over the last two or three months.

“The new bank accounts are also being monitored,” he said.

Fearing movement of cash and contraband items by air, electoral officials said they have decided to keep extra vigil at the Delhi airport.

“The security and customs department are already very strict at the airport. But still we would be meeting the airport authorities on Monday to apprise them about the possible movement of huge amount of cash and contraband items,” said Garg.