EVM to be used despite Mizo Opposition’s worry

Aizawl, March 8 (PTI): Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) would be used in the coming elections to the lone Mizoram Lok Sabha seat and by-poll to the South Tuipui assembly seat to be held on April 16, state chief electoral officer Lalmalsawma said here on Sunday. Though opposition parties expressed suspicion that the machines can be tampered with, EVMs would be used during the polls in accordance with the instruction of the Election Commission, Lalmalsawma said.

He said he has not received any report on threat to boycott the polls from any political party if EVMs are used. He pointed out that first level checking of EVMs had been completed by nine engineers from the Electronics Corporation of India Ltd between February 25 and March five. There has been no evidence that EVMs can be tampered with remote controlled electronic system, he added.


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Model Code of Conduct valid to all Pol Parties

Kohima, March 8 (DIPR): Consequent on the announcement of General Elections by the Election Commission of India, the Model Code of Conduct came into operation from March 2, 2009 and will be in force till the completion of the General Elections. A press release from the Chief Electoral Officer, Nagaland, C.J. Ponraj stated that this would be applicable to all Political Parties and to the Union and State Governments. The CEO has reiterated the following directives issued by the Commission for strict compliance by Political Parties, candidates and the State Government.

I. Party in Power:

The party in power whether at the Centre or in the State or States concerned, shall ensure that no cause is given for any complaint that it has used its official position for the purposes of its election campaign and in particular:

(i) (a) The Ministers shall not combine their official visit with electioneering work and shall not also make use of official machinery or personnel during the electioneering work.
(b) Government transport including official aircrafts, vehicles, machinery and personnel shall not be used for furtherance of the interest of the party in power;
(ii) Public places such as maidans etc.., for holding election meetings, and use of helipads for air-flights in connection with elections shall not be monopolized by itself. Other parties and candidates shall be allowed the use of such places and facilities on the same terms and conditions on which they are used by the party in power;
(iii) Rest houses, Dak Bungalows or other Government accommodation shall not be monopolized by the party in power or its candidates and such accommodation shall be allowed to be used by other parties and candidates in a fair manner but no party or candidate shall use or be allowed to use such accommodation (including premises appertaining thereto) as a campaign office or for holding any public meeting for the purposes of election propaganda;
(iv) Issue of advertisement at the cost of public exchequer in the newspapers and other media and the misuse of official mass media during the election period for partisan coverage of political news and publicity regarding achievements with a view to furthering the prospects of the party in power shall be scrupulously avoided.
(v) Ministers and other authorities shall not sanction grants/payments out of discretionary funds from the time elections are announced by the Commission; and
(vi) From the time elections are announced by Commission, Ministers and other authorities shall not-

(a) Announce any financial grants in any form or promises thereof; or
(b) (except civil servants) lay foundation stones etc. of projects or schemes of any kind; or (c) make any promise of construction of roads, provision of drinking water facilities etc.; or (d) make any ad-hoc appointments in Government, Public Undertakings etc. which may have the effect of influencing the voters in favour of the party in power.

(vii) Ministers of Central or State Government shall not enter any polling station or place of counting except in their capacity as a candidate or voter or authorised agent.”

4) The Commission directs that there shall be a total ban on the transfer of all officers/officials connected with the conduct of the election.

II. Release of funds under Local Area Development Schemes:

(a) No fresh release of funds under MP including Rajya Sabha members - Local Area Development fund shall be made in any part of the State where election is in progress. Similarly no fresh release of funds under the MPs/ MLAs Local Area Development Fund shall be made, if any such scheme is in operation, till the completion of election process.

(b) No work may be started for which the work order had been issued, but where the work has actually not started in the field. Such works can be started after the completion of the election process. However, where the work has already started, the work can continue.
(c) There shall be no bar to the release of payments for completed work(s) subject to the full satisfaction of the concerned officials.

III. Use of Vehicles:

Official vehicles cannot be used for electioneering work. ‘Official Vehicles’ include all vehicles belonging to the Central Government, State Government, Public Undertakings of the Central and State Government, Joint Sector Undertaking of Central and State Government, Local Bodies, Municipal Corporations, Municipalities, Marketing Boards (by whatever name known), Cooperative Societies, Autonomous District Councils, or any other body in which public funds, howsoever small a portion of the total, are invested and also vehicles belonging to the Ministry of Defense and the Central Police Organizations under the Ministry of Home Affairs and State Governments.

Source: Morung Express

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