Election Commission of India Vows to Ensure Transparent and Inducement-Free Elections in Telangana
Hyderabad, Oct 5: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar reaffirmed the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) unwavering commitment to conduct free, fair, transparent, and inducement-free elections in Telangana during a press conference held at the conclusion of a three-day visit to Hyderabad. The visit was aimed at reviewing the state’s preparedness for the upcoming Assembly elections.
During their visit, the ECI team met with both state and central enforcement agencies and issued stringent directives to combat the influence of money power during the elections. Commissioner Rajiv Kumar emphasized that a clear message had been conveyed to these agencies to take strict measures against the inflow of illicit funds, liquor, freebies, and drugs.
He noted that the perception or actual misuse of money power and the distribution of freebies by political parties or candidates were detrimental to the democratic process. As a result, enforcement agencies were instructed to identify the individuals orchestrating such malpractices.
The ECI also directed banks to monitor online cash transfers through wallets for potential irregularities. Furthermore, the State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBS) was urged not to allow cash-dispensing vehicles to operate beyond designated hours. Rigorous scrutiny would be applied to ambulances and government vehicles to prevent potential misuse.
Strict vigilance will be maintained at inter-state borders, given that 17 Telangana districts share boundaries with Maharashtra, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh. A total of 148 check posts, including 89 police and 21 excise check posts, will be established.
All helipads and airstrips will be under close scrutiny, and all enforcement agencies have been instructed to work together seamlessly.
State enforcement agencies have been tasked with identifying goods with a high likelihood of being used for distribution during elections. Warehouses and godowns stockpiling liquor and freebies will also be closely monitored.
Cargo movements via non-scheduled chartered flights will be scrutinized to prevent any unlawful activity.
Citizens can use the cVigil mobile app to report Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violations. This app enables users to anonymously report any wrongdoing, such as the distribution of money, liquor, and freebies. Complaints will be verified within 100 minutes, and the complainant’s identity will remain confidential.
Political parties have called for inducement-free elections and requested the curbing of money power, liquor distribution, and the freebies. They have also urged the ECI to ensure the purity of electoral rolls, deploy central armed police forces at critical locations, and appoint micro observers at polling stations, particularly in urban areas. Additionally, they emphasized the need for vigilance against impersonation and hate speech on social media.
Telangana boasts a total of 3.17 crore voters in 119 Assembly constituencies, with an equal distribution of male and female voters at 1.58 crore each. The CEC encouraged all voters to participate in the forthcoming elections and celebrate the festival of democracy.
In a rigorous process, 22 lakh voters were removed from the rolls in 2022 and 2023, with 14 lakh being deleted in 2022 and 7.9 lakh in 2023. The deletions were made only after receiving Form-7 and conducting ground verification to prevent wrongful exclusions.
Regarding concerns about households with numerous voters, the CEC clarified that all households with more than six voters were verified across the state, with 7.66 lakh such households identified. Of these, 4.15 lakh voters required address corrections.
Telangana is equipped with 35,356 polling stations, with an average of 897 voters per polling station. Webcasting will be carried out at 78 percent of polling stations.
The CEC highlighted improvements in the voter experience, with the number of model polling stations increasing from 119 in 2018 to 644 in 2023.
For the first time in Telangana, 4.43 lakh senior citizens aged 80 and above will have the option to vote from the comfort of their homes by filling out Form 12D within five days of notification. Additionally, individuals with a disability of 40 percent or more will also have the option to vote from home.
