ECI vows to deliver free, fair & transparent elections
Morung Express News
Kohima | November 28
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday said that Nagaland will go ahead with the polls as scheduled and the date of election will be announced on a later date.
The election will be held as scheduled (before March) and announcements will be made on the date of elections, said Chief Election Commissioner Achal Kumar Joti addressing a hurried press conference here at Hotel Japfü, Kohima on November 28.
The current term of Nagaland Legislative Assembly started on March 14, 2013, and will officially expire on March 14 next.
Without divulging further and refusing to be drawn into ongoing demand for ‘solution before election’ from various quarters, he said, “The Commission is committed to maintain purity of elections and to deliver free, fair and transparent elections.”
The Commission has directed the State Level and District Level Election machinery to be fearless, unbiased, neutral and independent from any influence whatsoever, the CEO informed.
Joti also asserted that “If anyone is found wanting on these standards, the Commission will not hesitate to take stern action.”
The high-level ECI team led by Chief Election Commissioner Achal Kumar Joti had arrived in Kohima on November 27 to oversee the preparation for Nagaland Assembly elections scheduled to be held in March next year.
The other members of the ECI team are two Election Commissioners - Om Prakash Rawat and Sunil Arora, Deputy Election Commissioner Sudeep Jain, and Director General Dhirendra Ojha. Nagaland Chief Electoral Officer Nagaland Abhijit Sinha was also present at the conference.
Currently the team is touring three northeastern states – Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya – scheduled for election next year.
In Nagaland, the team informed the press conference that the Commission had met representatives of various political parties; reviewed the work of the DCs, CPs/SPs; discussed issues with Chief Secretary, DGP, Home Secretary, senior officials; and also planned strategies with various enforcement agencies.
Suggestions and issues were raised regarding monitoring of movement of armed cadres who intimidate voters, checking of booth capturing and proxy voting, checking the extravagant expenditure, and proper training on electoral procedures, the team said.
In this connection, the ECI stated that it will put in place an effective mechanism to ensure smooth conduct of the entire poll process in a free, fair, peaceful and transparent manner.
SECURITY MANAGEMENT
Regarding the security arrangement for the poll, the CEC informed that besides the general and police observers, the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) will be used for confidence building measures. The CAPF vehicles will have proper signage and public address system, he said.
The Commission has directed the State government to make arrangements for providing cashless treatment facility to all polling staff, CAPF and police force on election duty.
It further directed for the strict implementation of ceasefire ground rules so that the movement of armed cadres is curbed in the interest of free and fair election.
EXPENDITURE MONITORING
On Expenditure monitoring, the Commission reviewed with enforcement agencies to curb misuse of money, drugs, liquor, and gift distributions.
“Gift distribution is a new innovation to buy vote,” the CEC said, adding that the gift could come in various avatars such as of free Sim Card, gadgets and so on. Income tax officials will also be deployed for expenditure monitoring while 180 flying squads and 94 Static Surveillance Teams will be operationalised to check movement of cash, drugs etc in Nagaland, he added.
He further informed that the vehicles of the Flying Squads will be fitted with GPS to track their movement and take prompt action. Air Intelligence Units of IT Authorities would be set up at Dimapur Airport and a Financial Intelligence Unit will also be initiated to monitor transactions of high value in banks, on a daily basis.
The Commission has also directed for Media Certification and Monitoring Committee to be constituted in every district, while guidelines related to Paid News and media will also be issued.
To make Elections accessible to all, the Commission said that special emphasis on senior citizens and the differently-abled persons will be given and all polling premises will be provided with sturdy ramps as well as wheel chairs, waiting areas, queue assistance, escorts etc.
As per the draft electoral roll of CEO Nagaland on October 3, 2017, there were 11.63 lac electors in the state with 5.89 lac males and 5.74 lac females.
There is a total of 2194 polling stations. The Commission informed that the final publication of the electoral rolls will be done by January 5.
As per the final roll, there are 1722 service electors with 1718 male and 4 female service electors.
The ECI will introduce Electornic Voting Machine (EVM) with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) in all the 2194 polling stations of the 60 constituencies. VVPAT enables voters to verify on paper the vote they have cast.
