The Election Commission of India on Friday announced the schedule for Assembly elections in four States and one Union Territory, which will be conducted in multiple phases from April 4 to May 16.
Elections in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry will be held in a single phase on May 16, said Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi. In West Bengal, owing to security issues, polling will be held in six phases, the first phase on April 4 and 11, and the rest on April 17, 21, 25, 30 and May 5. Assam will go to the polls in two phases on April 4 and 11.
Asked whether action would be taken if any reference was made on the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to remit the life sentence of the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convicts, Mr. Zaidi said: “As and when the reference comes, the Commission will take an appropriate view to ensure that our voters are not influenced.”
The votes will be counted on May 19.
After delimitation in Cooch Behar of West Bengal, about 16,000 residents — recently recognised as Indian citizens after the exchange of enclaves with Bangladesh — will cast their votes in the Assembly elections for the first time. The model code of conduct immediately comes into effect.
Over 17 crore voters in 824 constituencies will exercise their franchise in the elections. New voters can enrol themselves 10 days ahead of the date of filing of nominations. The Election Commission has removed over seven lakh entries from the electoral rolls because of duplication and death of voters.
The electronic voting machines, for the first time, will carry a NOTA (none of the above) symbol created by the National School of Design. Photographs of the candidates will also be featured alongside the voting buttons. Identification of voters through voter card at polling booths has been made mandatory, but if required, use of additional documents will be allowed. Arrangements have been made for separate women-only polling stations in several constituencies.
Taxmen to keep a watch at airports
The Election Commission of India, which has announced a multi-phase schedule for Assembly elections in four States and one Union Territory, from April 4 to May 16, has issued instructions for setting up polling stations inside schools of the visually impaired and leprosy treatment centres, if necessary.
Based on the assessment of the ground situation, Central and State armed forces will be deployed to ensure peaceful elections.
In order to ensure neutrality of officials during the elections, the EC has directed transfer of the officials above the rank of sub-inspectors and inspectors who have served for at least three years at one place.
Necessary instructions have been issued to the income-tax, excise and police departments to keep a close watch.
The investigation wing of the Income Tax Department has been asked to open air-intelligence unit at airports in the four States and the Union Territory to gather information on movement of large sums of cash. “A mechanism has been laid out to deal with the issue of paid news,” said Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi.