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7-phase poll in U.P. justified: Gopalaswami

J. Venkatesan

Says it "ensured free and fair polls"

NEW DELHI: Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami on Saturday justified the seven-phase elections for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, saying it "ensured free and fair polls."

In an interview to The Hindu , he said there were very few instances of re-polling in the six phases already completed. He attributed this to the deployment of about 100 per cent Central paramilitary forces in the polling stations and to the overall conduct of the elections that ensured no disturbance.

Denying Chief Minister Mulayam Singh's charge that the "scare" created by the Commission resulted in a poor voter turnout, Mr. Gopalaswami said the average polling never exceeded 60 per cent in previous elections. On an average it was less by 10 per cent this time, as bogus voting had been prevented.

On the Bharatiya Janata Party's criticism that the Commission was not fair in its approach while dealing with the complaint relating to the compact disc, as it had not taken any action against Congress president Sonia Gandhi or Railway Minister Lalu Prasad who flouted the model code of conduct, he said there could not be any single rule for every one. Each complaint had to be dealt with in terms of its content and not on its proportionality. The CEC admitted that the Commission had not succeeded in curbing money power.

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