Schedule for the General Elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry.
Schedule for the
General Elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West
Bengal and Puducherry.
The terms of the Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West
Bengal and Puducherry are normally due to expire as follows:
Tamil Nadu
22.05.2016
West Bengal
29.05.2016
Kerala
31.05.2016
Puducherry
02.06.2016
Assam
05.06.2016
As
per the established practice, the Election Commission holds the General
Elections to the Legislative Assemblies of the States whose terms expire around
the same time, together.
By
virtue of its powers, duties and functions under Article 324 read with Article
172(1) of the Constitution of India and Section 15 of Representation of the
People Act, 1951, the Commission is required to hold elections to constitute
the new Legislative Assemblies in the States of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West
Bengal and Puducherry before expiry of their present terms.
(1) Assembly Constituencies
The
total number of Assembly Constituencies in the States of Kerala, Tamil Nadu,
West Bengal and Puducherry and seats reserved for the Scheduled Castes and the
Scheduled Tribes, as determined by the Delimitation Commission under the
Delimitation Act, 2002, are as under: -
|
State
|
Total No. of ACs
|
Reserved for SC
|
Reserved for ST
|
|
Kerala
|
140
|
14
|
02
|
|
Tamil Nadu
|
234
|
44
|
02
|
|
West Bengal
|
294
|
68
|
16
|
|
Puducherry
|
30
|
05
|
--
|
|
Assam*
|
126
|
08
|
16
|
(*In Assam, territorial determination of Assembly
Constituencies is as per Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly
Constituencies Order, 1976)
(2) Electoral Rolls
The electoral rolls of all the
existing Assembly Constituencies in the States/UT of Assam, Kerala,
Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry have been revised, with
reference to 01.01.2016 as the qualifying date, and have been finally published.
As per the final rolls, the numbers of elector in these States/UT are as
following:
|
State
|
Date of Publication
|
Total No. of Electors in 2011
|
Total No. of Electors in 2016
|
|
Assam
|
11.01.2016
|
1,81,45,914
|
1,98,66,496
|
|
Kerala
|
14.01.2016
|
2,29,40,408
|
2,56,08,720
|
|
Tamil Nadu
|
20.01.2016
|
4,59,50,620
|
5,79,15,075
|
|
West Bengal
|
05.01.2016
|
5,60,91,973
|
6,55,46,101
|
|
Puducherry
|
11.01.2016
|
8,05,124
|
9,27,034
|
(a) Improvement in the health of the
electoral roll: The Commission, after
visiting the poll bound states/UT, had directed to conduct a time-bound and
systematic drive for the improvement in the quality and health of their
respective electoral rolls, so as to enhance their fidelity for the conduct of
free and fair elections. During the Special Electoral Roll Purification Drive
from 15th to 29th February, 2016, concerted focus was laid on enrolment of all
eligible voters, removal of repeated and multiple entries, removal of the
entries of dead voters (after due statutory procedure) correction of various
types of errors in EPICs and roll data. Wide ranging consultations were also
held with the various stakeholders and their valuable suggestions and inputs
were duly factored while undertaking the purification drive. This exercise has
improved the quality of the electoral rolls in a significant way.
(b) Photo Electoral Rolls
Photo electoral rolls will be used
during these general elections and photo percentages in Photo Electoral Rolls
of these States are as follows:-
|
States
|
Percentage of Photo Electoral Rolls
|
|
Assam
|
97.90
|
|
Kerala
|
100
|
|
Tamil Nadu
|
100
|
|
West Bengal
|
100
|
|
Puducherry
|
100
|
(c) Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPIC)
Identification of the voters at the
polling booth at the time of poll shall be mandatory. Electors who have been
provided with EPIC shall be identified through EPIC. Presently, the EPIC
coverage in the States are as under:-
|
States
|
Percentage of EPIC
|
|
Assam
|
93.85
|
|
Kerala
|
100
|
|
Tamil Nadu
|
100
|
|
West Bengal
|
100
|
|
Puducherry
|
100
|
All the residual electors are advised to obtain
their Elector Photo Identity Cards from the Electoral Registration Officers of
their Assembly Constituencies, urgently.
In order to ensure that no voter is deprived of his/her franchise, if his/her
name figures in the Electoral Rolls, separate instructions will be issued to
allow additional documents for identification of voters, if needed.
(d) Photo Voter Slips
To
facilitate the voters to know where he/she is enrolled as a voter at a
particular polling station and what is his/her serial number in the Electoral
roll, the Commission has directed that voter slip bearing the Photo of
the elector (wherever present in the roll) will be distributed to all
enrolled voters by the District Election Officer. It has also been directed
that the said voter slip should be in the languages in which electoral roll is
published for that Assembly Constituency. The Commission has laid a special
emphasis on the systematic, efficient and timely distribution of the Photo
Voter Slips through the Booth Level Officers (BLOs), who are under strict
instructions to hand over the voter slip to the elector concerned only and not
to any other person. The BLOs shall also maintain a Pre-Printed Register of
Voters and take the signatures/thumb impression of person to whom the Photo
Voter Slip is delivered. The residual undistributed Voter Slips shall be kept
at the Facilitation-desks set up outside each Polling Station on the poll day.
The distribution of Photo Voter Slips should be completed atleast 5 days before
the date of poll and a very close and rigorous monitoring of the distribution
process shall be done by the DEO and General Observer concerned.
(3) Polling Stations and Special Facilitation
The number of Polling Stations in the poll going States as on the date of final
publication of electoral rolls are as follows:
|
States
|
No. of Polling Stations in 2011
|
No. of Polling Stations in 2016
|
% Increase
|
|
Assam
|
23,813
|
24,888
|
4.5
|
|
Kerala
|
20,758
|
21,498
|
3.5
|
|
Tamil Nadu
|
54,016
|
65,616
|
21.5
|
|
West Bengal
|
51,919
|
77,247
|
48.7
|
|
Puducherry
|
815
|
913
|
12
|
(a) Basic Minimum Facilities (BMF) at
Polling Stations:
The Commission has issued instructions to the Chief
Electoral Officers of all States to ensure that every Polling Station
is equipped with Basic Minimum Facilities (BMF) like drinking water,
shed, toilet, ramp for the physically challenged voters and a standard voting
compartment etc
(b) Model Polling Stations:
In order to enhance the quality of voting experience for the esteemed electors,
both in terms of the ease and comfort of voting, as well as their constructive
association with the voting process, the Commission has directed that, as far
as practicable, Model Polling Stations shall be set up in all the
constituencies of the poll bound states/UT. The Model Polling Stations envision
the enhancement in electoral participatory experience of the voters through a
three pronged strategy of improved physical structure and facilities of polling
premises, systematic and hassle-free queue management and courteous and polite
behaviour and conduct of the polling personnel.
(c)
Special Arrangement For Women and Differently abled Voters:
(i) Separate Polling Station For Women:
The Commission has directed that in areas where women folk feel inhibited in
mingling with male members because of some local custom or social practice, a
separate polling station for women can be provided after getting approval of
the Election Commission. Further, in big villages, if two polling stations are
to be provided for the village, one may be provided for male electors and the
other for female electors. In polling stations provided exclusively for
women electors, polling personnel also should normally be women. When separate
polling stations are provided for men and women of a particular polling area,
these should as far as possible be located in the same building for general
convenience.
(ii) Facility
Of Differently abled Electors: The Commission has issued instructions
to ensure that as far as practicable, all polling stations are located at
ground floor and sturdy ramps are provided for the convenience of differently
abled electors with wheel-chairs. Also, it has been directed that differently
abled electors are given priority for entering polling booths, provision for
designated parking spaces close to the entrance of polling premise and special
care to be provided to electors with speech and hearing impairment. Special
focus has been laid for the sensitization of the polling personnel regarding
the unique needs of the differently abled.
(iii) Facility
For Blind Schools: The Commission has instructed that, as far as
practicable, separate auxiliary polling station will be set up inside the Blind
Schools for ease and facilitation of the inmates and staff.
(iv) Polling Station For Voters Suffering From Leprosy: The Commission has directed that if a leprosy
sanatorium is located within the constituency, then, if possible, a separate
polling station may be set up for the inmates and staff working in the
sanatorium.
(4) Deployment Of Polling Personnel And Randomization
Polling parties shall be formed randomly, through special application software. Three-stage
randomization will be adopted. First, from a wider district database
of eligible officials, a shortlist of a minimum 120% of the required numbers
will be randomly picked up. This group will be trained for polling duties. In
the second stage, from this trained manpower, actual polling parties as
required shall be formed by random selection software in the presence of
General Observers. In the third randomization, the polling stations will be allocated
randomly just before the polling party’s departure. There shall be
randomization for such Police personnel and Home guards also, who are deployed
at the polling stations on the poll day.
(5) Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs)
The
poll in these States and UT of Puducherry will be conducted at all polling
stations using EVMs. The Commission has already made arrangements to ensure
availability of adequate number of EVMs for the smooth conduct of elections.
The Commission has issued a new set of instructions with regard to the First
Level Check of EVMs, that will be used in the poll in these States. The First
Level Check of EVMs, has been done in the presence of representatives of
political parties. A two-stage randomization of EVMs will
be made. In the first stage, all the EVMs stored in the district storage centre
will be randomized by the District Election Officer (DEO) in the presence of
the representatives of the recognized political parties for assembly
constituency-wise allocation. EVMs will be prepared and set for elections after
finalization of the contesting candidates. At this stage also, candidates or
their agents/representatives will be allowed to check and satisfy themselves in
every manner about the functionality of the EVMs. After the EVMs in a
constituency are prepared for the poll by the Returning Officer and the ballot
units are fitted with ballot papers, the EVMs will again be randomized to
decide the actual polling stations in which they will be ultimately used. The
Second Stage randomization will be done in the presence of Observers,
Candidates or their Election Agents.
(a) Mock Poll: As per the Commission's instructions, a Mock
Poll shall be conducted by the Presiding Officer at each Polling Station before
the commencement of actual polling in the presence of the Polling Agents set up
by the contesting candidates and a Certificate of successful
conduct of the Mock Poll shall be made by the Presiding Officer. Immediately
after the conduct of Mock Poll, the CLEAR Button shall be pressed on
the EVM and the fact that no votes are recorded in the Control Unit shall be
displayed to the Polling Agents present. The Commission has issued directions
for ensuringproper training to all the polling personnel regarding
the conduct of Mock Poll, as well as to create awarenessamongst the
political parties, contesting candidates, their polling agents and other
stakeholders about the Mock Poll process.
(b) None
Of The Above (NOTA) In EVMs: In its judgment dated 27th September,
2013 in Writ Petition (C) No. 161 of 2004, the Supreme Court has directed that
there should be a “None of the Above” (NOTA) option on the ballot papers and
EVMs.
On the Balloting Unit, below the
name of the last candidate, there will now be a button for NOTA option so
that electors who do not want to vote for any of the candidates can exercise
their option by pressing the button against NOTA. For the first time, the Commission
has provided a new symbol for the NOTA option, which was designed by
National Institute of Design (NID). This new symbol will facilitate the voters
in casting of their votes.
The Commission is taking steps to bring
this to the knowledge of voters and all other stakeholders and to train all
field level officials including the polling personnel about the provision of
NOTA and its symbol.
(6) VVPAT ( Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail)
VVPAT
will be used in all the five poll going states as per the details in the table
below:
|
States
|
No. of ACs with VVPAT deployment
|
|
Assam
|
10
|
|
Kerala
|
12
|
|
Tamil Nadu
|
17
|
|
West Bengal
|
22
|
|
Puducherry
|
3
|
VVPATs
will be used in a total of 14,066 polling stations across the 5 poll-bound
states/UT and the List of Assembly Constituencies in each State where VVPAT
will be used in the forthcoming elections is placed at “Annexure VI”.
(7) Photographs Of Candidates On Ballot Paper
In order to facilitate the electors in identifying
the candidates, the Commission has prescribed an additional measure by way of
adding provision for printing the photograph
of candidate also on the ballot to be displayed on the EVM (Ballot Unit) and on
Postal Ballot papers. This will also take care of likely confusion when
candidates with same or similar names contest from the same constituency. For
this purpose, the candidates are required to submit to the Returning Officer,
their recent Stamp Size photograph as per the specifications laid down by the
Commission. Many of the poll-bound states will be using the photograph of the
candidates on the ballot papers for the first time. Instructions have also been
issued to ensure necessary publicity of this instruction.
(8) Affidavits Of candidates – All Columns To Be Filled
In:
In
pursuance to the judgment dated 13th September, 2013 passed by
the Supreme Court in Writ Petition (C) No. 121 of 2008, which among other
things makes it obligatory for the Returning Officer “to check whether the
information required is fully furnished at the time of filing of affidavit with
the nomination paper”, the Commission has issued instructions that in the
affidavit to be filed along with the nomination paper, candidates are required
to fill up all columns. If any column in the affidavit is left blank, the
Returning Officer will issue a notice to the candidate to file the affidavit
with all columns filled in. After such notice, if a candidate fails to
file affidavit complete in all respect, the nomination paper will be liable to
be rejected at the time of scrutiny. The Chief Electoral Officers have
been directed to brief all Returning Officers about the judgment of the Supreme
Court and the Commission’s instructions.
The Commission has enabled
e-filing of Affidavits and expenditure statements to be lodged by
candidates. Further, trained Election Commission Return Preparers will be
available in each district to assist candidates in e-filing of affidavits and
abstract statements and such expenses will be borne by the Commission
(9) District Election Management Plan (DEMP)
The District Election Officers have been asked to prepare a comprehensive
district election management plan in consultation with SPs and Sector Officers,
including the route plan and communication plan for conduct of elections. These
plans will be vetted by the Observers taking into account vulnerability
mapping exercise and mapping of critical polling station in accordance with
Election Commission of India’s extant instructions.
(10) Communication plan
The
Commission attaches great importance to preparation and implementation of a
perfect communication plan at the district/constituency level for the smooth
conduct of elections and to enable concurrent intervention and mid-course
correction on the poll day. For the said purpose, the Commission has
directed the Chief Electoral Officers of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West
Bengal and Puducherry to
coordinate with the officers of Telecommunication Department in the State
headquarters, BSNL/MTNL authorities, the representatives of other leading
service providers in the States so that network status in the States is
assessed and communication shadow areas be identified. The CEOs have also
been advised to ensure best communication plan in the States/UT and make
suitable alternate arrangements in the communication shadow areas by providing
Satellite Phones, Wireless sets, Special Runners etc..
(11) Model Code of Conduct
The
Model Code of Conduct comes into effect immediately from now
onwards. All the provisions of the Model Code will apply to the whole of Assam,
Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry and will be applicable to all candidates,
political parties and, the State Governments of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West
Bengal and Pudducherry. The Model Code of Conduct shall also be applicable to
the Union Government insofar as announcements/policy decisions pertaining. for
these States/UT is concerned.
The
Commission has made elaborate arrangements for ensuring the effective
implementation of the MCC Guidelines. Any violations of these Guidelines would
be strictly dealt with and the Commission re-emphasizes that the instructions
issued in this regard from time to time should be read and understood by all
Political Parties, contesting candidates and their agents/representatives, to
avoid any misgivings or lack of information or inadequate
understanding/interpretation. The governments of the poll-bound States/UT have
also been directed to ensure that no misuse of official machinery/position is
done during the MCC period.
(12) Videography/ Webcasting
All
critical events will be video-graphed. District Election Officers will
arrange sufficient number of video and digital cameras and camera teams for the
purpose. The events for videography will include filing of nomination papers
and scrutiny thereof, allotment of symbols, First Level Checking, preparations
and storage of Electronic Voting Machines, important public meetings,
processions etc. during election campaign, process of dispatching of postal
ballot papers, polling process in identified vulnerable polling stations,
storage of polled EVMs, counting of votes etc. Webcasting, Videography and
Digital cameras will also be deployed inside polling booths wherever needed.
(13) Law And Order, Security Arrangements And Deployment
Of Forces
Conduct
of elections involves elaborate security management, which includes not
just the security of polling personnel, polling stations and polling
materials, but also the overall security of the election process. Central Armed
Police Forces (CAPFs) are deployed to supplement the local police force in
ensuring a peaceful and conducive atmosphere for the smooth conduct of
elections in a free, fair and credible manner. Keeping all this in mind, the
very designing of the poll schedule, sequencing of multi-phase elections and
choice of constituencies for each phase had to follow the logic of force
availability and force management.
The Commission has taken various
measures to ensure free and fair elections by creating an atmosphere in which
each elector is able to access the polling station, without being obstructed or
being unduly influenced / intimidated by anybody.
Based
on the assessment of the ground situation, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF)
and State Armed Police (SAP) drawn from other States will be deployed during
these elections. The CAPF shall be deployed well in advance for area
domination, route marches in vulnerable pockets, point patrolling and other
confidence building measures to re-assure and build faith in the minds of the
voters, especially those belonging to the weaker sections, minorities etc.
In the LWE areas, CAPF shall be inducted well in time for undertaking area
familiarization, hand-holding with local forces and standard protocols
regarding IEDs and de-mining/Road Opening and other activities in the LWE areas
will be strictly adhered to. The CAPF/SAP shall also be deployed in the
Expenditure Sensitive Constituencies and other vulnerable areas and critical
polling stations as per the assessment of ground realities by the CEO
of the State, in consultation with the various stakeholders.
On the Poll-eve, the CAPF/SAP shall take position in and control of the
respective polling stations and will be responsible for safeguarding the
polling stations and for providing security to the electors and polling
personnel on the poll day. Besides, these forces will be used for securing the
strong rooms where the EVMs are stored and for securing the counting centers
and for other purposes, as required.
The
CEOs will ensure a day-to-day monitoring of the activities and
deployment of the CAPF/SAP in the states/UT to optimize the usage and
effectiveness of these forces for conducting peaceful and transparent elections
and inform the Commission periodically. Further, the entire force deployment in
the assembly segments shall be under the oversight of the Central
Observers deputed by the Commission.
The Commission lays a special emphasis on the advance preventive measures to be
taken by the District Magistrates and Police authorities to maintain the Law
& Order and to create atmosphere conducive for the conduct of free and fair
elections. The Commission will be constantly monitoring the ground situation
closely and will take appropriate measures to ensure peaceful, free and fair
polls in these States.
(14) Protection To Electors Of SC/ST And Other Weaker
Sections:
As per Section 3 (1) (vii) of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention
of Atrocities) Act, 1989, whoever, not being a member of a Scheduled Caste or
Scheduled Tribe, forces or intimidates a member of a Scheduled Caste or a
Scheduled Tribe not to vote or to vote for a particular candidate or to vote in
a manner other than that provided by law shall be punishable with imprisonment
for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to five
years and with fine. The Commission has asked the State Governments to bring
these provisions to the notice of all concerned for prompt action. In order to
bolster the confidence of the voters hailing from vulnerable sections
especially SC, STs etc and enhance their conviction and faith in the purity and
credibility of the poll process, CAPF/SAP shall be extensively and vigorously
utilized in patrolling such areas, conducting route marches and undertaking
others necessary confidence building measures under the supervision of the Central
Observers.
(15) Election Expenditure Monitoring:
Comprehensive instructions for the purpose of effective monitoring of the
election expenditure of the candidates have been issued, which include
formation of flying squads, static surveillance Teams, video surveillance
Teams, involvement of Investigation Directorates of Income Tax Deptt. etc.
State Excise Departments and police authorities have been asked to monitor
production, distribution, sale and storage of liquor and other intoxicants during
the election process. The functioning and operations of the Flying
Squads/Mobile Teams shall be closely monitored using GPS Tracking.
For greater transparency and for ease of monitoring of Election Expenses,
Candidates would be required to open a separate bank account and incur their
election expenses from that very account. The Investigation Directorate of
Income Tax Dept. has been asked to open Air Intelligence unit in the airports
of these states and also to gather intelligence and take necessary action
against movement of large sum of money in these states.
Some new initiatives taken
by the Commission to strengthen the Expenditure Monitoring mechanism are:
(a) Modification of the
Standard Operating Procedure for Seizure and release of cash: To avoid inconvenience to
common people with genuine need for carrying cash, the Standard Operating
Procedure for seizure of cash and release has been modified. An appellate body
will be in place in every district to attend to petitions from the public. The
Committee will suo motu examine each case of seizure by the Police or Flying
Squad or Static teams and in suitable cases immediate steps will be taken to
release the same.
(b) Donations received by
candidates- to be in cheques or Drafts: The Commission has
directed that candidates should not receive any loan or donation exceeding Rs.
20,000/- in cash and all such donations or loans are to be received by cheque
or draft or through banking channels only.
(c) Accounting of
the expenditure incurred for campaign vehicles – on the basis of permissions
granted: It came to
the notice of the Commission that the candidates take permission from the
Returning Officer for use of vehicles for campaign purpose, but some candidates
do not show the vehicle hiring charges or fuel expenses in their election
expenditure account. Therefore, it has been decided that unless the candidate
intimates the R.O. for withdrawing the permission, the notional expenditure on
account of campaign vehicles will be calculated based on the number of vehicles
for which permissions is granted by the Returning Officer.
(d) Filing of part statement of
Election Expenditure by Political parties in 30 days: The political parties
will be required to file a part expenditure statement in respect of the lump
sum payments made to the candidate, within 30 days after declaration of
results.
(e) Account Reconciliation
Meeting: In order to reduce litigations relating to expenditure accounts, a
reconciliation meeting will be provided before final submission of the
accounts, on the 26th day after the declaration of the results.
(16) Media Coverage And Paid News:
To
deal with the issue of ‘Paid News’, a mechanism has been laid out with three
tier of Media certification and Monitoring Committees (MCMC) at District, State
and ECI level. Revised comprehensive instruction on ‘Paid News’ are available
on the Commission’s website.
Necessary
instructions have been issued to the CEOs of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West
Bengal and Puducherry to ensure briefing of political parties and Media in the
districts about ‘Paid News’ and the mechanism to check ‘Paid News’. The MCMCs
of all states have been trained to do their job.
(17) Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral
Participation (SVEEP)
Comprehensive measures for voters’ education were taken up during the Special
Roll Revision process in the states. These measures will continue and will be
further augmented during the electoral process.
10% of the lowest turnout Polling Stations in each district have been
identified and possible reasons for the lower turnout analyzed. KABBP
(Knowledge, Attitude, Behaviour, Belief and Practices) survey has also been
undertaken by the Chief Electoral Officers and interventions based on the
findings have been taken up.
Chief Electoral Officer of the States have been directed to ensure wide
dissemination of election related information as well as adequate facilitation
measures for ensuing wider participation of people in polling. Model polling
stations will be set up in each of the assembly constituencies. Voter
helplines, Voters’ Facilitation Centres, web and SMS based search facilities
are active for assistance of voters. Reminder services on poll days have been
meticulously planned. There are special facilities in place for persons with
disability.
As per the
directions of the Commission, Booth Awareness Groups shall
be activated at the Polling Stations for educating the Voters and motivating
them for informed and ethical voting.
(18) Deployment Of Central Observers:
a. General Observers
The Commission will deploy
General Observers in adequate number to ensure smooth conduct of elections. The
Observers will be asked to keep a close watch on every stage of the electoral
process to ensure free and fair elections. Their names, addresses within the
district/constituency and their telephone numbers will be publicized in local
newspapers so that the general public can quickly approach them for any
grievance redressal. The Observers will be given a detailed briefing by the
Commission before their deployment. The Observers will fix a suitable time
every day for meeting the political parties, candidates and other stakeholders
to redress their election related grievances.
b. Police Observers.
The Commission may
deploy IPS officers as Police Observers in district level, in the poll going
States depending upon the need and sensitivity. They will monitor all
activities relating to force deployment, law and order situation and
co-ordinate between civil and Police administration to ensure free and fair
election.
c. Expenditure Observers.
The Commission has also decided to appoint adequate
number of Expenditure Observers and Assistant
Expenditure Observers who will exclusively monitor the election
expenditure of the contesting candidates. Control room and Complaint
Monitoring Centre with 24 hours toll free numbers shall
be operative during the entire election process. Banks and financial
intelligence units of Government of India have been asked to forward suspicious
cash withdrawal reports to the election officials. Comprehensive
instructions for the purpose of effective monitoring of the election
expenditure of the candidates have been separately issued by the Commission and
are available at ECI website .
d. Micro Observers
As per the extant instructions, the General Observers will also deploy
Micro-Observers, from amongst Central Government/PSUs Officials, to observe the
poll proceedings on the poll day in critical/vulnerable polling stations.
Micro-Observers will observe the proceedings at the polling stations on the
poll day, right from the conduct of mock poll, to the completion of poll and
the process of sealing of EVMs and other documents so as to ensure that all
instructions of the Commission are complied with by the Polling Parties and the
Polling Agents. They will report to the General Observers directly regarding
any vitiation of the poll proceedings in their allotted polling stations.
e. Awareness Observers:
Awareness Observers from Central Government are also being appointed to observe
the SVEEP programme carried out during the election period for assessing the
level of facilitation, information and motivational programmes at the field
level.
(19) Conduct of Officials
The Commission expects all officials engaged in the conduct of elections to
discharge their duties in an impartial manner without any fear or favour. They
are deemed to be on deputation to the Commission and shall be subject to its
control, supervision and discipline. The conduct of all Government officials
who have been entrusted with election related responsibilities and duties would
remain under constant scrutiny of the Commission and strict action shall be
taken against those officials who are found wanting on any account.
The
Commission has already given instructions that no election related official or
Police officer of the rank of Inspector and above shall be allowed to continue
in his home district. Besides, instructions have also been issued that election
related officials including police officials of Inspector level & above who
have completed three years in a district during last four years should be
transferred out of that district. Police officers of the rank of Sub Inspectors
who have completed three years in a Sub Division/Assembly Constituency or are
posted in their home sub division/assembly constituency shall be transferred
out of that Sub Division and the Assembly Constituency.
The
Commission has also instructed the State Governments not to associate any
officer with the electoral process against whom charges have been framed in a
court of law in any case.
(20) Complaint Redressal Mechanism – Call Center And
Website Based
The poll going States shall have a complaint redressal mechanism based on
website and call center. The number of call center is 1950, which is a toll
free number. The URL of the complaint registration website will be announced
for the State by the Chief Electoral Officers separately. Complaints can be
registered by making calls to the toll free call center numbers or on the web
site. Action will be taken within time limit on all complaints. Complainants
will also be informed of the action taken by SMS and by the call center.
Complainants can also see the details of the action taken on their complaints
on the website.
(21) New IT Applications To Be Used For Forthcoming
General Elections:
(a) Redressal Arrangements
This application shall be provided so that the
people / political party can lodge their complaints on the common platform for
all complaints received from all sources. Mobile app shall be made available
for the people so that they can submit complaints with photographs / videos on
the common platform. SMS is sent to complainant on receipt / disposal of
complaint. Complainant can track status and view ATR online through the android
App.
(b)Single Window System
A single window system for giving
election related permissions/clearances within 24 hours has been created. In
this system, Candidates and Political Parties can apply for permissions for
Meetings, Rallies, vehicles, temporary election office, loudspeakers etc at a
single location, where back-end convergence of various authorities/departments
has been done. This system is put in place at every RO level in each
sub-division which will provide for applying, processing, granting and
monitoring permissions in a synergistic manner. However, in case of permissions
for Helicopter usage/landing and use of helipads, the application shall have to
be submitted atleast 36 hours in advance.
(c) Vehicle Management System
It is
a Vehicle Management System with the facility of
Issuance of requisition letters for vehicles, Capturing of vehicle details with
address, mobile number and bank details of Owner & Driver, Transfer of
vehicles from one district to another district etc.
(d) Use of webcasting / CCTV at
polling stations:
Webcasting at selected distant polling
stations for LIVE monitoring of election process, to keep a check on illegal
activities such as booth capturing, money distribution and bogus voting and to
bring about complete transparency in the voting process shall be done. Further,
during the election process, CCTV monitoring and webcasting shall also be done
at various border check-posts, check-nakas and other sensitive and critical
locations across the constituencies to keep a strict vigil on any nefarious
activities designed to vitiate the electoral process.
(e)
Polling / Police Personnel Deployment Plan
This application will be used for creating database
of Police / Polling personnel, generation of command / appointment letters,
sending SMS regarding deputation / training, tagging of patrolling party with
force, generation of application for postal ballot, formation of polling party
/ police party after randomization, for sending polling personnel / police
force from one district to another district etc.
(f) Voter
Centric Information Dissemination Initiatives:
It is the constant endeavour of
the Commission to facilitate the voters across the country in accessing the
multifarious election related services and information. As part of this vision,
an SMS Based search facility and Voter Friendly Interactive Website has already
been launched and successfully working.
(22) Poll Day Monitoring System
A constant and stringent 24-hour monitoring of the critical events and
activities of the poll day shall be done using the Poll Day Monitoring System.
All the crucial events like reaching of Polling Parties, PS Image, Votes Cast,
Voters’ Images etc shall be captured and monitored using this state-of-the-art
IT application, which has the added advantage of being used offline also,
so as to circumvent non-connectivity of network. All data captured offline is
synchronized with the centralized server as soon as the person using the App
comes in the coverage area. Through this App, we can find out Voter Turnout
(VTR) gender-wise, age-wise and section-wise. Improvement of quality of image
in the roll can also be done through this App as we get the recent colour
photograph of the voter against old / bad quality photograph in the roll.
(23) Schedules of Election
The
Commission has prepared the Schedules for holding General Elections to the
Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry
after taking into consideration all relevant aspects, like the climatic
conditions, academic calendar, major festivals, prevailing law and order situation
in the States, availability of Central Police Forces, time needed for movement,
transportation and timely deployment of forces and in-depth assessment of other
relevant ground realities.
The
Commission after considering all relevant aspects has decided to recommend to
the Governors of the State of Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala and the
Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry to issue notifications for the General
Elections to their respective states under the relevant provisions of the Representation
of the People Act, 1951, as per the schedule annexed.
ANNEXURE – I
Schedule for holding General Elections to the
Legislative Assembly of Assam.
|
S. No.
|
Poll Event
|
1st Phase
( 65 ACs)
|
2nd Phase
( 61 ACs)
|
|
1.
|
Issue of Notification
|
11.03.2016 (FRI)
|
14.03.2016 (MON)
|
|
2.
|
Last date for making
Nominations
|
18.03.2016 (FRI)
|
21.03.2016 (MON)
|
|
3.
|
Scrutiny of Nominations
|
19.03.2016 (SAT)
|
22.03.2016 (TUE)
|
|
4.
|
Last date for withdrawal of candidature
|
21.03.2016 (MON)
|
26.03.2016 (SAT)
|
|
5.
|
Date of Poll
|
04.04.2016 (MON)
|
11.04.2016 (MON)
|
|
6.
|
Counting of Votes
|
19.05.2016 (THU)
|
19.05.2016 (THU)
|
|
7.
|
Date before which election process shall be completed
|
21.05.2016 (SAT)
|
21.05.2016 (SAT)
|
*Details of ACs going to poll during the two phases
enclosed.
Election Commission of India
New Delhi : 04th March ,2016
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