The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Parties by and large observed model code of conduct, says Naresh Gupta

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Parties by and large observed model code of conduct, says Naresh Gupta

S. Dorairaj

"It was Election Commission's endeavour to ensure free and fair polls at any cost"

Naresh Gupta

CHENNAI: Chief Electoral Officer Naresh Gupta may have been unpopular with politicians and even some officials. But the voters in the State have endorsed his actions by their huge turnout in the elections on May 8. In this interview, Mr. Gupta discusses the measures that ensured a free and fair poll. Excerpts:

Q: What were the key decisions that ensured the conduct of a smooth, free and fair poll?

A: The first step in the whole process is to make efforts to provide clean and error-free electoral rolls. Though bogged down by some difficulty or the other right from the beginning of 2005, the rolls revision work was completed successfully.

The second essential element is to ensure proper identification of the voters at the time of poll through documents with photos. The EC fixed a target of covering 90 to 95 per cent of the electors under the electors photo identity card (EPIC) programme. Despite initial teething trouble and limited time, the EPIC coverage had come to 75 per cent by the end of April in addition to the 8 per cent people, who were estimated to have already possessed EPIC but the numbers were not there in the electoral rolls database.

Apart from these measures, appointment of a large number of observers to monitor the elections closely and enforcement of the model code of conduct (MCC) had also made it difficult for any one to indulge in bogus voting.

Apparently you were at the receiving end of complaints and brickbats from both the main political formations. How did you tackle these problems?

During the elections it is inevitable that political parties may have some doubts with certain actions or decisions of the EC or the State election machinery. However, the endeavour of the State election machinery is to function impartially and objectively.

Did you notice any change in the attitude of the bureaucracy and the police as the campaign progressed?

With the announcement of the elections, the MCC comes into force and the bureaucracy, particularly that segment which has election related duties, comes under the scanner of the EC. As we approach the poll date, more representations are received by the EC from the public and political parties regarding acts unbecoming of the Government servants. But most of them would like to be cautious so that they do not invite trouble for themselves.

Three officials and four poll observers were shifted during the course of the election. Was this a major problem?

The number of changes the EC effected in Tamil Nadu is very small when compared to the large-scale reshuffle that was effected in Bihar. The EC will not tolerate any act of impropriety on their part.

You had several meetings with political parties. Are you happy with the cooperation extended by them?

Political parties by and large observe the MCC very well particularly with regard to cutouts, hoardings, wall writings and pasting posters. However use of a large number of vehicles and convoys showed they had not followed the spirit of the instructions. The EC has already communicated its displeasure to them.

How do you justify the deployment of so many observers and paramilitary forces in the State this time?

In retrospect, the observers served a useful purpose. If any one plays the rules of the game fairly, it would not be necessary for the EC and the State election machinery to monitor the election process so closely and to have a large number of observers. Since it was a single-phase poll in the State, the EC was very particular about deploying as many paramilitary forces as possible.

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