News Analysis India

Tag: EC

  • Lok Sabha polls: EC asks political parties to share details of aircraft, helicopters used in campaigning

    The Election Commission of India (ECI) has asked political parties to furnish details of aircraft and helicopters being used for campaigning, including their origin and destination and details of people ferried in them. A letter by Tejas Samel, deputy election officer of Mumbai Suburban district, dated April 12, said such information has to be furnished three days before the journey to the district election office, but that duration has now been reduced to 24 hours.

    “We are sending a revised letter on April 17. Instead of three days, they have to inform us 24 hours in advance,” Samel told PTI on Tuesday night.

    The details should also include the make of the aircraft/helicopter and people travelling in them. The letter said this information has to be furnished under the Model Code of Conduct in force for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, which has to be sent to the ECI.

    Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra, which has 48 seats, will be held in five phases between April 19 and May 20.

  • Election Commission to explore remote voting 

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Tuesday said it will start exploring possibilities of remote voting on a pilot basis.

    The commission also said a committee would be appointed to examine issues of migrant voters, which will also seek input from political parties.

    “Voters migrate from the place of their registration to cities and other places for education, employment and other purposes. It becomes difficult for them to return to their registered polling stations to cast their vote. The Commission felt that time has come to explore possibilities of remote voting, maybe on a pilot basis,” the statement said.

    “A committee would be set up to examine the issues of migrant voters. Given that voters and political parties are the primary stakeholders, more comprehensive consultation with all stakeholders, including parties, would be started after that,” it added.

    The EC has been thinking about remote voting over the last few years.

    The statement of the election commission came days after the Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar undertook an hours-long trek to some of Uttarakhand’s most remote polling booths in Chamoli district in the recent assembly polls to assess challenges faced by election officials. 

    He had visited Dumak and Kalgoth and interacted with both villagers and polling parties there.

    The poll panel also announced doubling the remuneration of polling officials going to such booths three days before voting day.

    It was also decided at a meeting to develop special water and shockproof, extra protective backpacks or cases to carry EVM-VVPATs and safeguard the machines provided to all such teams to aid hands-free movement in rugged terrain.

    The remuneration for polling officials used to be a uniform per diem amount for all alike.

    Chief Electoral Officers of the states and Union Territories shall specifically notify such polling stations for enhanced remuneration during the election, the statement said.

  • Soren seeks 4-week extension from EC to reply to notice over mine lease, given 10 days

    By PTI

    RANCHI: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren Tuesday sought a four-week extension from the Election Commission to reply to its notice over charges that he issued a mining lease in the state in his favour, but the poll panel gave him 10 days.

    The EC had sought Soren’s response after it had received a representation that he was allegedly misusing the office of chief minister and therefore he should be disqualified as a member of the assembly.

    Soren has rejected the charges. The EC had issued the notice to Soren on May 2 asking him to reply by May 10, but the JMM leader had sought four more weeks, citing his mother’s ill health among other reasons.

    “I have sought at least four weeks’ extension of time from the EC for submission of my detailed reply to its notice,” Soren told PTI earlier in the day.

    However, sources in the national capital said the poll panel gave him 10 days.

    Soren said he had also requested the EC to be given the opportunity of personal hearing by the Commission “through my legal counsel before it formulates its opinion in the matter for tendering it to the Governor of Jharkhand under Article 192(2) of the Constitution of India”.

    The poll panel has received a representation from Jharkhand Governor Ramesh Bais on the issue of “misuse” of office by the chief minister and will send its opinion to him.

    If the charges are proven, Soren may stand disqualified as a member of the state assembly.

    “I deny and dispute all allegations of the BJP about my alleged disqualification for being a member of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly on the ground of a mining lease, obtained by me in May 2021, under Section 9A of the Representation of People Act, 1951 or any other ground whatsoever and deny all allegations by BJP that I had misused my office to obtain mining lease,” Soren said in the letter to EC.

    Section 9A of the Representation of the People Act deals with disqualification of a lawmaker for a government contract.

    In the letter to the EC, Soren said his 67-year-old mother is critically ill for about eight months and had to be airlifted on April 28, 2022 from Ranchi to Hyderabad for better medical treatment.

    He said he has not been able to engage a suitable legal counsel as he was in Hyderabad, except for a short period when he attended the Conference of Chief Ministers and Chief Justices of India with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on April 30.

    “She is presently under treatment in the ICU of AIG Hospital at Hyderabad. In order to ensure her proper medical treatment, I have also been presently, more or less, compelled to stay in Hyderabad. In the above circumstances, I have not been able to engage suitable legal counsel to present my defence effectively before the Commission in a matter which so vitally effects my future political career and social life,” he said in the letter sent on May 5.

    He wrote again to the EC on May 9 requesting it “to communicate its acceptance for my prayer for extension of time and oblige”.

    “I further submit that I would like to be afforded opportunity of personal hearing by the Hon’ble Commission through my legal counsel before the Hon’ble Commission formulates its opinion in the matter for tendering it to the Hon’ble Governor of Jharkhand under Article 192(2) of the Constitution of India.” Last week, Soren had told the Jharkhand High Court that his political rivals are behind a public interest litigation over the issue of granting mining lease to him to destabilise his democratically elected government in the state.

    In his affidavit in the High Court, the CM has accepted he was granted a lease for mining stones on 0.88 acres in Angarha block in Ranchi district, but said the contents of the PIL are akin to the letters and statements made by BJP accusing him of misusing his office of chief minister.

    He also claimed that he has not derived any profit or gain from the mining lease while he has been the chief minister of the state since 2019 and no mining activity has been carried out in the land as the consent for it has not yet been granted by the Ranchi deputy commissioner.

    The granting of the mining lease cannot be a reason for the disqualification of membership from the Assembly and the PIL should be dismissed with exemplary costs, he demanded in the affidavit.

    The EC had recently written to the state government to share the documents related to the mining lease. The issue has already triggered a political controversy in the mineral-rich state.

  • Parliament panel seeks govt, EC views on regional commissioners for 2024 LS polls

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Asserting that the Election Commission (EC) should have optimum manpower, a parliamentary committee has sought views of the government and the poll panel on appointing regional commissioners to help the EC in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

    There is a provision in the Constitution to appoint regional commissioners to assist the EC in various elections.

    During the first Lok Sabha elections in 1951, regional commissioners were appointed for six months in Bombay and Patna. After that, there was no such deployment.

    In its report on Demands for Grants (2022-23) for the legislative department in the Union law ministry, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and Personnel said that it has taken note of constitutional provisions and also the submission by the EC stating regional commissioners may be appointed by the President of India, if required.

    However, after the first general elections, they were not appointed, the committee observed.

    “The committee is of the view that ECI should have optimal level of manpower as per its requirements and accordingly, recommends the Legislative Department/Election Commission of India to submit its views on the appointment of regional commissioner/s for the forthcoming general elections to the Lok Sabha in the year 2024,” the committee headed by Sushil Modi said.

    The legislative department is the nodal agency in the government to deal with issues relating to the EC. The report was tabled in Parliament last week in the ongoing Budget session. Article 324 of the Constitution deals with the Election Commission, and one of its provisions refers to regional commissioners.

    According to Article 324(4), “before each general election to the House of the People and to the Legislative Assembly of each State, and before the first general election and thereafter before each biennial election to the Legislative Council of each State having such Council, the President may also appoint after consultation with the Election Commission such Regional Commissioners as he may consider necessary to assist the Election Commission in the performance of the functions conferred on the Commission.”

    The poll panel secretariat here relies on its chief electoral officers in every state to help it hold free, fair and peaceful polls. The chief electoral officers are often called the “limbs” of the EC.

  • Over Rs 1000 crore worth of cash, drugs, liquor, freebies seized during assembly polls in 5 states

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: With the Election Commission stepping up vigil, more than Rs 1,000 crore worth of cash, drugs, liquor and freebies have been seized so far in the ongoing assembly polls in five states, a nearly four-fold increase in such seizures over the previous round of elections in 2017.

    According to an Election Commission statement, Punjab topped the chart with total seizures amounting to Rs 510.91 crore, followed by Uttar Pradesh (Rs 307.92 crore), Manipur (Rs 167.83 crore), Uttarakhand (Rs 18.81 crore) and Goa (Rs 12.73 crore).

    The total seizures in the five states were over Rs 1,018 crore, a nearly four-fold increase over the total seizures of Rs 299.84 crore made during the 2017 assembly elections in these states.

    In the five states, the total cash seizures amounted to Rs 140.29 crore, while more than 82 lakh litres of liquor valued at Rs 99.84 crore was also confiscated.

    Drugs worth Rs 569.52 crore, precious metals worth Rs 115.054 crore and freebies worth Rs 93.5 crore were also seized.

    “Apart from above mentioned seizure figures, the Commission’s visit galvanised enforcement authorities as the agencies seized drugs worth Rs 109 crore in Punjab and more than eight lakh litres of liquor in Uttar Pradesh in the run-up to the elections,” the Commission said in a statement.

    The Commission said it had strengthened monitoring of expenditure in the run-up to the elections in the five states through a multi-pronged strategy.

    “The strategy included appointment of experienced officers as Expenditure Observers, sensitising and reviewing a larger ambit of enforcement agencies for more coordinated and comprehensive monitoring, ensuring adequate availability of field level teams in the monitoring process,” a statement from the Commission said.

    It said 228 Expenditure Observers were deployed and Special Expenditure Observers, who are officers with impeccable and brilliant track record of domain expertise, too were appointed for effective monitoring.

    The seven-phase assembly elections began on February 10 and will conclude on March 7. Votes will be counted on March 10.

  • Case against Akhilesh for violation of poll code

    By PTI

    ETAWAH: A case for the violation of the election code has been registered against Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav as he spoke to the media inside a polling centre when voting was in progress, an official said on Monday.

    District Magistrate Shruti Singh said on Sunday when polling was in progress at a polling centre in Abhinav School of Saifai, Yadav spoke to reporters, the video of which surfaced on social media.

    The Saifai SDM and the Circle Officer were asked to probe the matter.

    On being finding it true and considering it a violation of the model code of conduct, a case was registered at the Saifai police station, she said.

  • EC turns down BJP leader’s demand for re-polls in UP constituency

    By PTI

    SHAMLI: The Election Commission has turned down Uttar Pradesh minister Suresh Rana’s demand for re-election in Thana Bhawan Assembly constituency after he alleged irregularities in polling.

    Rana was the BJP candidate from Thana Bhawan constituency which went to the polls in the first phase on February 10.

    District Election Officer Jasjit Kaur, who is also the District Magistrate of Shamli, in a press statement on Sunday said elections were held peaceably and there were no incidents of malpractice or irregularity during the polls.

    Hence, she said, Rana’s demand for fresh elections at 40 polling booths in Thana Bhawan constituency could not be entertained.

  • CM Patel launches new IT policy as Gujarat prepares for technological revolution

    AHMEDABAD: Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced a new Gujarat IT and ITeS policy today to promote rapid and inclusive growth in the IT sector in the state. This new policy will be in force for five years i.e. from 2022 to 2027.

     “I strongly believe that this policy will help us contribute significantly to one of the eight dreams of Prime Minister, Narendrabhai Modi – Berozgari semukt, Rozgari se yukt,” the Chief Minister said.  He stated that this policy is also aimed at realising the vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Gujarat to Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ in the Information Technology sector.

    This IT / ITeS policy (2022-27) is envisioned to transform the state’s information technology landscape in the IT ecosystem of Gujarat. The Chief Minister expressed confidence that Gujarat would become a “Destination of Choice” for the IT ecosystem by strengthening various aspects to make Gujarat one of theleading states in the field of information technology.

    The Chief Minister said that the Indian IT sector under the enterprising leadership of Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi has steered our nation to a leadership position in the global IT landscape in terms of employment and economic value creation.

    He further said that the state government has envisaged the creation of a conducive business ecosystem by formulating a robust policy framework and introducing simplified procedural requirements for setting up IT operations in the State.

    Explaining the objectives of Gujarat IT/ITes Policy in detail, the Chief Minister said that the objectives are to create high skilled, industry-ready IT talent pool; provide a state-of-the-art IT Infrastructure; develop a unique and simplified incentive scheme; establish a robust cloud ecosystem in the State and foster research & development in new and emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Quantum computing, Blockchain, etc.

    He further said that the new policy also aims to increase Gujarat’s annual exports in the IT sector from Rs.3,000 crore to Rs.25,000 crore and create more than 1 lakh new employments in the IT and ITeS sector.

    The Chief Minister also added that Gujarat is striving to get a place in the top five states of the country in the field of IT. He said that the new policy aims to make Gujarat a leader in world-class IT infrastructure, data centers, and the availability of innovation centers in emerging technology.

    With Chief Minister representatives of 9 nationally and internationally renowned IT organizations were also present on the occasion.

  • FIR lodged against Samajwadi Party for model code violation

    By IANS

    LUCKNOW: An FIR has been lodged at the Gautam Palli police station in Lucknow against the Samajwadi Party for violation of model code of conduct as well as Covid protocols.

    The action was taken after a huge crowd gathered at the SP office on Friday afternoon for the joining of former BJP minister Swami Prasad Maurya, Dharam Singh Saini and other legislators in the party.

    Lucknow District Magistrate Abhishek Prakash said that the Samajwadi Party’s virtual rally was held without prior permission.

    “Upon receiving information, a police team was sent to the SP office. Action is being taken on the basis of their report,” he said, adding that Section 144 is in force in the state capital.

    Samajwadi Party’s Uttar Pradesh unit chief Naresh Uttam Patel said, “It was a virtual event inside our party office. We did not call anyone, but people came. People work abiding by Covid protocols.”

    He further said, “Crowds were there even at BJP ministers’ doorsteps and in markets, but they only have a problem with us.”

    The Election Commission of India (ECI) had on January 8 announced a ban on physical rallies in light of the surge in Covid cases in parts of the country.

  • DMK spent over Rs 218 crore in FY 2020-21, BSP over Rs 17 crore

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party has shown expenditures of over Rs 17 crore in its audited annual report submitted to the Election Commission, while the DMK spent over Rs 218 crore in financial year 2020-21.

    The BSP’s report, filed on December 30 last year, showed receipts worth Rs 52,46,79,235.

    The party has shown expenditure of Rs 17,29,72,729 in its audited annual report for the financial year 2020-21 put in the public domain by the EC on Thursday.

    The BSP has 15 seats in the outgoing Uttar Pradesh Assembly and is making all-out efforts to become a major stakeholder in the 403-member House in this year’s election beginning February 10.

    The seven-phase polls is likely to see a tough fight between the ruling BJP and the opposition Samajwadi Party. The results will be announced on March 10. The Bahujan Samaj Party is a recognised national party.

    In the recognised state parties category, the poll panel has uploaded audited annual reports for 2020-21 of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Jammu & Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

    The JMM, which filed its report on December 31 last year, has shown a total expenditure of Rs 58,43,655 and total receipt of Rs 90,66,500.

    The PDP, which filed its report on December 27, has shown total expenditure of Rs 9,95,450 and total receipt of Rs 33,289.

    The principal opposition party in Tamil Nadu, AIADMK, has shown total expenditure of Rs 42,36,73,610 and total receipt of Rs 34,07,60,964 in its audited annual report filed on December 22, 2021.

    Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK has shown total expenditure of Rs 218,49,22,072 (Rs 218.49 crore) and total receipt of Rs 149,95,12,635 (Rs 149.95 crore) in its annual report filed on January 3 this year.