The Hindu : Front Page : Election Commission will be tough on model code violations: Naresh Gupta

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 26, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

Election Commission will be tough on model code violations: Naresh Gupta

Special Correspondent

Concerned about the Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: Chief Electoral Officer Naresh Gupta on Saturday made it clear that the Election Commission would be "very tough" in implementing the Model Code of Conduct and its instructions in all States going to polls.

He told reporters here that the Election Commission was concerned about the Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu. The Commission had been closely monitoring the situation in the State.

Series of meetings

The "full Election Commission has proposed to review preparedness for Assembly elections in Chennai on March 28 and 29.

They will be doing a similar review in Pondicherry on March 27."

After having a meeting with representatives of recognised political parties in the forenoon of March 28 at the Raj Bhavan, the Election Commission would have a meeting in the afternoon with District Election Officers (DEOs) followed by a joint meeting with DEOs and police officers at the Secretariat.

On March 29, the Commission would have a meeting with the Chief Secretary, the Home Secretary and the Director-General of Police.

It would review the Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) programme, besides discussing appointment of Returning Officers, Assistant Returning Officers and other polling personnel, identification of sensitive polling stations, implementation of the Model Code, procurement of polling materials and checking of Electronic Voting Machines.

At the meeting with police officers, the Election Commission would discuss the law and order situation including incidents after the elections were announced, restrictions on possession of arms or weapons, action against anti-social elements, execution of non-bailable warrants and bandobust for elections.

Complaints galore

Replying to queries on aspects that warranted Election Commission's close monitoring, Mr. Gupta said the State Election Department received a lot of complaints on various issues. "We have been receiving 50 to 60 `tapals' daily." Most of these letters were on issues relating to transfer of government personnel. Some of the issues were outside the purview of the commission, as they referred to non-transfer of government personnel who were not connected to election work.

"This time we will have election observers at the rate of one for each Assembly constituency."

On the ongoing EPIC programme, Mr.Gupta said the second round of the campaign would be taken up at link centres for a week or ten days in each constituency. The Tamil Nadu Open Places (prevention of disfigurement) Act 1959 prevented putting up posters and wall writings, he said.

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