ECI reviews poll preparedness for forthcoming Assembly Elections in Kerala
ECI reviews poll preparedness for forthcoming Assembly Elections in Kerala
- Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Shri Gyanesh Kumar along with Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi held a detailed and comprehensive review of the poll preparedness for the forthcoming Kerala Legislative Assembly Elections in Kochi today.
- During the review visit, the Commission interacted with the representatives of recognized national political parties namely Aam Aadmi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Bharatiya Janata Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Indian National Congress, and the recognised state political parties, namely, Communist Party of India, Indian Union Muslim League, Kerala Congress, Kerala Congress (M) and Revolutionary Socialist Party and sought their suggestions.
- Most of the political parties appreciated the Election Commission of India for the peaceful and smooth conduct of the Special Intensive Revision of the Electoral Rolls in Kerala. Some parties also appreciated the good work done by the BLOs in the conduct of SIR.
- Some of the political parties urged the Commission to keep in mind the upcoming local festivals while finalising the dates of elections.
- Some of the parties requested the Commission to make special arrangements for facilitating the elderly voters and PwD voters.
- Political parties urged the Commission to take stringent measures to curb the use of money power and distribution of liquor/freebies during elections.
- Some of the parties raised concerns over the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and synthetically generated content in vitiating the electoral atmosphere.
- CEC Shri Gyanesh Kumar reiterated that SIR has been conducted in the most transparent manner. He said that the objective of SIR is to ensure that no eligible elector is left out while no ineligible person is included in the Electoral Rolls. He added that Forms 6/7/8 can still be filed for any inclusions/deletions/changes. He also underlined that appeals can be filed with the DM/CEO as per RP Act 1950.
- The CEC assured all the political parties that Elections are always held as per Law in an impartial, free, fair and a transparent manner.
- The Chief Election Commissioner encouraged the political parties to use the cVIGIL Component of ECINET Platform of ECI for filing any complaints of violations of code of conduct during the elections.
- CEC called upon all the political parties to ensure that the conduct elections in Kerala, as always, are a model not only for the entire country but for the entire world.
- Later, the Commission held a detailed review with the Heads/Nodal Officers of Enforcement Agencies, IGs, DIGs, DEOs, SPs on every aspect of election planning, EVM management, logistics, training of election staff, seizures, law and order, voter awareness and outreach activities.
- The Commission directed all Heads/Nodal Officers of Enforcement Agencies to act with complete impartiality and firmly clamp down on all inducement related activities.
- The Commission also directed all DEOs to ensure that Assured Minimum Facilities (AMFs), including ramps, wheelchairs and drinking water, are made available at all polling stations for the comfort of voters.