State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha held a meeting with representatives of various political parties here on Tuesday and sought their help in the strict implementation of the model code of conduct for the local body elections. Representatives from 19 political parties at the national and state level and 12 from other states attended the meeting. Some of them asked the SEC to expeditiously issue caste as also no-due certificates to the candidates who have submitted the applications.
They sought the provision of CCTV coverage relating to the election process to enhance transparency and a strict vigil against the movement of liquor. They also sought adequate security to the contestants where necessary and proper facilities for filing of nominations at the district collectorates. Due consideration, they said, must be given for festivals while finalising the elections schedules. Another call to the SEC was to issue instructions to the police to be impartial and maintain a level playing field for all contestants.
The election commissioner said he had already advised the authorities to ensure expeditious issue of caste certificates and no-due certificates to the aspiring candidates. SEC, he said, had also issued detailed instructions for identification of sensitive, hypersensitive and critical polling stations and for appropriate measures, including videography, webcasting and deployment of micro observers based on need, to ensure free, fair and transparent elections.
The SEC clarified that nominations must be filed before the concerned returning officer/election officer. It had also issued instructions that security should be provided based on the assessed threat perception, wherever a request for such security is received. Earlier, SEC secretary A Mallikarjuna gave a power point presentation on various preparatory activities for the conduct of ordinary elections along with the relevant provisions of election laws and the model code of conduct.
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