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The Election Commission (EC) of India is looking into complains of political parties, mostly belonging to Opposition, on misuse of official power by few government officials including three district collectors and couple of police officials to help the ruling party in the election process.
The main opposition parties, Congress and BJP, which had sent petitions to the EC on these allegations earlier, today reiterated their suspicion on the conduct of the officials during an interaction of EC officials with political parties here today.
“We have received complaints against three district collectors as some political parties have alleged that they are not conducting elections fairly and urged us to take necessary action. We will decide on the next course of actions after inquiry,” H S Brahma, the election commissioner, told media persons after an interaction with eight political parties of the state and senior government officials.
The EC official did not name the collectors, saying it would not be proper to reveal the names without any inquiry into allegation of their partisan conduct. He, however, said, the collector of Khurda is one of the names included in the list of three collectors.
Meanwhile, the Congress today filed a petition before the EC demanding shifting of a couple of senior police officials citing their partisan behaviour to favour the ruling party.
The Opposition party also alleged that the ruling party is taking the help of police vehicles and ambulances to transport money for election expenses. The EC said, it would look into all these allegations.
The poll watchdog today directed the Odisha government to stop using Bharat Nirman volunteers in election related activities after opposition parties accused the government of using the volunteers to propagate election manifesto and achievements of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government.
“The volunteers are free to talk about government achievements but not during elections. We have directed the government that volunteers would not be used for election activities,” said Brahma.
The EC issued the direction on the basis of complaints lodged by BJP, which had alleged that the district collectors were instructed by the state administration to utilise these volunteers to mobilise the voters on the polling day. In the name of persuading people to cast their votes for the sake of democracy, the volunteers have been trained to highlight the achievements and schemes of the Naveen Patnaik government, the saffron party said.
Bharat Nirman volunteer programme, launched during 2012, is a flagship project of the Union MInistry of Rural Development to propagate different achievements of Union and state government. As per the guideline of Rural Development ministry, each volunteer is responsible for creating mass awareness, increase mobilisation and participation in various government programmes and assist functionaries in shouldering responsibilities in a more effective manner. Under the programme, one volunteer is attached to a block of 40 household.
As the political parties raised security issues in the Naxal affected areas, Brahma said, adequate security will be provided to the candidates during campaigning.
Replying to a question over boycott of polls by some villages in Kandhamal and Rayagada districts, the commissioner said all out efforts will be made to ensure that the villagers turn up to cast their votes if they are found to be intimidated by the Naxals or some other elements.
Seeking cooperation from the media for information on any illegalities conducted during campaigning, including use of money to lure the voters, the election commissioner said, the Commission has set up an expenditure monitoring team and flying squads to look into the matter.
Responding to the request of political parties about putting up posters and banners on private property, Brahma said, the materials would not be removed if owner’s consent is taken.
“We have decided not to remove the campaigning materials from private households if owner’s consent has been taken in advance,” said Election Commissioner, Nasim Zaidi, present at the press meet. The Commission also highlighted about the use of social media and paid news during the elections and sought cooperation from media to curb unethical practices to lure votes.
