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Saturday, Sep 11, 2004

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National

Parties warned against misusing religious functions

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 10. The Election Commission today warned political parties that action would be taken against them if they sought to take electoral advantage in the coming polls of religious functions such as Ganesh Chaturthi or the ongoing "Tiranga yatra" of the former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Uma Bharti.

Talking to reporters after addressing a meeting of election observers appointed for the coming Assembly elections and byelections, the Chief Election Commissioner, T. S. Krishnamurthy, said "adequate action" would be taken "if the need arose" when the "Tiranga yatra" entered Maharashtra. Referring to reports of political parties using Janmashtami celebrations for electoral purposes, he said action would be taken against them if the reports were found to be true.

Mr. Krishnamurthy justified holding the Maharashtra Assembly elections on one day. Stating that the ground realities did not necessitate a staggered poll, he pointed out that no repoll had been ordered in the State in the past three Lok Sabha elections and in the last Assembly poll.

Observers

The Election Commission has appointed 250 officers as observers to oversee the election process in the elections to the Maharashtra and Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assemblies besides byelections in 14 States, including Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat, Punjab, Manipur, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

Of the 250 officers shortlisted, 190 will be general observers and the rest expenditure observers. On an average, two general observers and an expenditure observer will be deployed in each district going to the polls. These observers will cover the entire election process; beginning with the filing of nominations to the declaration of results.

The observers were briefed today on the task ahead by the CEC and the other Election Commissioners, B. B. Tandon, and N. Gopalaswami. Through the briefing, the Commission sought to impress upon them that they play an "important statutory role in ensuring free and fair elections" and serve as the "eyes and ears of the EC in the field."

The observers will have to maintain constant vigil to ensure that affidavits filed by candidates are widely disseminated, expenses incurred by candidates on campaigning is within prescribed limits, and the model code of conduct is observed.

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