CEC in Shimla: Himachal polls likely before snowfall sets in

Shimla: A team of twelve members Election Commission of India Saturday gave a signal to hold Himachal Pradesh State Assembly Election before onset of snowfall in the high-altitude district in the state.
Addressing a press conference at state guest house Peterhoff here Saturday, Chief Election Commissioner of India Rajiv Kumar said political leaders who met with the delegation during this visit apprised ECI about onset of snowfall in three tribal Assembly constituency by November 18 & 19.
The ECI would decide about Enforcement of model code of conduct at Delhi after returning from here, however, it would keep in mind the date of snowfall in the state for announcing MCC date of Election.
We will consider the inputs of political parties while declaring date of Election. He said ECI is already active to hold money free Election as central agencies are being already assigned this duty, CEC informed that recent raids conducted against Mining mafia were parts of this campaign.
Mr. Kumar said for the first time Braille enabled EVMs would be introduced in state assembly elections to facilitate the especially abled (Divyang) voters and this process would be further advanced by introducing sounds on the EVM to spell the name of the candidate.
He said ECI couldn’t not play any role as Supreme court has pronounced detailed verdict ending any further scope of changing these provisions.
ECI said all the Government officers who are on the same seats would be reshuffled soon. He said an order has been given to the Chief Secretary and Director General of police to immediately remove the government officers who have been holding their posts continuously for the last three years.
ECI couldn’t stop the entry of criminal and corrupt people if they get elected by the

electors, however, strict provisions have been made by ECI. Under the drive of Know your candidate KYC) all candidates and Political parties have to publish the criminal cases pending against them to the public, moreover, political parties have to explain the reason before allowing such candidate to contest.
ECI has also launched an App in which all Political parties and candidates have to place similar information about their criminal background for the public. To ensure the free and fair election e-vigil is being sounded in which citizens could place their information on the apps about the Election rigging and malpractices.
ECI also amended the electoral age for participating in the poll as for the first time all young people who have completed 18 yrs of age by October 1 2022 to be enrolled and could participate in the polling. One could inform the Commission after attaining 17 yrs of age as on the inputs ECI would automatically enroll new voters after turning 18 years of age.
To achieve the high turnout several programs were launched by ECI in Himachal Pradesh under the SVEEP drive campaign. He said ECI would also try to trace the details of those government officials who in more than 500 at one place would not cast their votes as after the election nodal officer of ECI would visit such employees to know about them and their records would also be maintained for further action.
CEC said state has around 68.64 lakh population and till now there are about 53.83lakh voters including 27.23 male and 26.48 lakh female voters including 54700 especially abled and 67793 service electrol. The state has around 127662 and 1294 voters who are octogenarian and centenarian. (UNI)