Shillong, The Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said the Election Commission can review the distribution of freebies by the political parties only after Model Code of Conduct comes into force.
The full team of ECI assessed the election preparation on Friday.
A question on the issue of inducement of voters by both the ruling NPP and the opposition AITC through their respective FOCUS and We Card schemes was raised, but the CEC said, “There are two things on this one is political parties have now as per the existing law and as per democratic practices have tried to make promises to the voters that is their right, it is also voters’ right to know what is being promised and also to an extent is it feasible or will it be implementable or not. As you know the debate is going on in the country in this aspect. But as of now the announcement cannot curb it in that way directly so when the MCC comes into play right now there is no MCC will look at all this whatever is permissible within existing law and instruction of the commission.”
He said detailed meetings with the other enforcement agencies including excise, GST, revenue intelligence, income tax, enforcement directorate, airport authority, reserve bank of India, narcotics, railways and others were held.
Committed to have inducement free polls
The CEC chief said the purpose behind the meeting is that they will all come together and create a situation and an environment which ensures that elections are inducement free..
“Will ensure that there is no scope for the freebees to be distributed, the cash to move from one place to another or to be distributed, drugs which is a very serious issue are not transited from here or not consumed here. We have given directions to everybody and they will be on their job very strictly,” Kumar said.
He said the narcotic bureau will also have a close look at the route which is used for the transit while the air intelligence unit will keep a check on all the planes or the choppers coming into the state and moving out of the state.
“There are standard operating procedures (SOP) to do the checking…so that there is nothing irregular or illegal that comes to the state to influence the election or to disturb the level playing field at any stage,” he added.
NPP files election expenditure
On the failure of the NPP to file its election expenditures for 2018 polls, Kumar said the party has already filed expenditures.
The ECI chief admitted the delay to file election expenses by various political parties in the country.
“And we have made the filing process far more robust so that all over the country not only this there are many who have not done it,” he said.
Complaint against minister
In reply to the complaint filed against cabinet minister Dasakhiat Lamare for distributing money to the people of Nongkrem, the CEC said the case was not brought to his notice and that the CEO will be asked to respond on the matter.
“Whenever any complaint comes to us we ask again all the DEOs to properly register all the complaints and respond,” he added.
