GUWAHATI, Feb 3 � The Election Commission of India has decided to introduce voters� slip for the ensuing Assembly elections in the State even as no date for holding of the polls has been fixed as yet.
Unlike on previous occasions where voters� slip were printed and distributed by the political parties, the Commission, this time, has decided to publish it on its own to facilitate easy and improved franchise.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) SY Quraishi while speaking at a press conference today, said, �The Election Commission had used the voters� slip on an experimental basis in the Bihar elections and buoyed by its success, we have decided to use it in Assam.�
The CEC informed that the Commission was doing its homework pertaining to the dates for the ensuing polls and a decision on it would be taken after taking into consideration all the relevant aspects.
�We would also opt for vulnerability mapping systems by putting in our resources and take steps to curb any potential threat by studying the history of poll violence in the area concerned. If required, preventive arrests would also be made,� Quraishi said.
He went on to inform that the Commission had introduced new and tough expenditure guidelines to monitor and control expenditure and a senior official of Direct Taxes named PK Das has been appointed for the same.
The Commission also reviewed the availability of micro-observers for expenditure control.
�We have also stressed on training of officers for the elections, especially on the new concept of expenditure control,� he said. He also divulged that the Commission would also opt for web-casting for some remote areas on the polling day.
�I have also instructed the authorities concerned to fill up all the vacancies of Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officer in the State within five days,� Quaraishi said, adding that the Commission also reviewed National Voters� Day. Status of the block level officers was also reviewed and deployment of local BLOs was stressed on.
Political parties, during their discussion with the Election Commission, had raised various issues concerning posting of officers and threats of violence from ministers and members of the Legislative Assembly, from ruling parties using public spaces for its publicity, and about harassment of citizens in the name of detection of foreigners.
