The Hindu : EC seeks security plan from Home Ministry

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 20, 2004

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EC seeks security plan from Home Ministry

By J. Venkatesan

NEW DELHI, FEB. 19. The Election Commission today held a crucial meeting with the Union Home Secretary, Anil Baijal, and discussed with him the Government's poll-preparedness.

This is the first meeting of the Full Commission with Mr. Baijal. The Chief Election Commissioner, T.S. Krishnamurthy, and the Election Commissioners, B.B. Tandon and N. Gopalaswamy, were present during the 30-minute meeting.

Sources said the Commission sought a plan from the Central Government on the security requirements and the movement of the security forces on polling day. Security should be provided for the Electronic Voting Machines in the strong room. Enough security should be made for the transportation of poll-related materials before and after polling.

The Commission, which completed consultations with the State Governments yesterday on poll-preparedness, has convened a meeting tomorrow with representatives of the six recognised national and 48 regional political parties after which the poll schedule is expected to be announced anytime.

Sources said the meeting would focus on seeking the cooperation of the parties for ensuring violence-free elections and reduced poll expenditure by the candidates and the parties.

Advertisement by political parties on television channels is also to be taken up and the matter will be discussed with the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

Further, the Commission will hear the parties' views on the conduct of elections and the new nomination forms to be used in line with the recent amendments to the Representation of the People Act. A strict adherence to the model code of conduct, which comes into force immediately on the announcement of election dates, will have to be ensured. The Commission will expect the parties to inform it of any violation of the code or other illegal practices.

The Congress and other major Opposition parties are expected to take up with the Commission the alleged misuse of the `India Shining' advertisements by the National Democratic Alliance Government for partisan ends. They have already complained to the Commission about "misuse" of public funds for the campaign. The Congress has also taken exception to Doordarshan "projecting" only the programmes of the NDA Ministers in its news channel.

The parties are expected to get a clarification from the Commission on the Government proposal to allow the use of IAF aircraft by the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, for electioneering. The new simplified nomination form to be submitted by candidates will contain details such as their assets and others as directed by the Supreme Court.

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