NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Thursday, taking forward its one-on-one meetings with delegations of recognised national and state political parties, heard the suggestions of concerns of Janata Dal (Secular) representatives on measures to strengthen the electoral process within the existing legal framework.
The poll panel has so far completed discussions with five national parties and 16 state parties as part of its “feedback” and “grievance redressal” sessions with all stakeholders. Though Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had earlier this month addressed a press conference to allege “massive voter fraud” in Karnataka and is currently taking out ‘voter adhikar yatra’ in Bihar to claim ‘vote chori’ by EC in Bihar, Congress, ironically, is the only national party yet to show up at EC for a discussion on all issues of concern.
Though EC had originally scheduled such a meeting with the Congress on May 15, it was cancelled at the latter’s request; Congress is yet to indicate a new date. Also, after Rahul Gandhi wrote a newspaper article alleging arbitrary additions to the voters’ list and surge in polling after 5 pm during Maharashtra assembly poll, EC had written to him on June 12 inviting him to directly discuss his concerns. Rahul did not respond.
Interaction with all recognised political parties is only one among the 28 initiatives and reforms undertaken by EC since CEC Gyanesh Kumar took over its reins.
Among the big reforms introduced to enhance transparency, EC said, are unveiling a system for checking and verification of EVM micro-controllers and ordering mandatory VVPAT count in the event of mismatch between voters data entered in Form 17C (shared with the candidates and polling agents) and EVM data and where mock poll data was not erased erroneously.
Also included are proceedings against registered unrecognised political parties (RUPPs), with 334 defunct entities already delisted and delisting proceedings initiated against another 476 RUPPs.
EC, equally focused on enhanced use of technology, has ensured that 3 lakh duplicate EPIC numbers were cancelled. To ensure a user-friendly digital interface with the stakeholders, EC has subsumed 40 different apps developed over time, into a single portal/platform.
The poll panel has so far completed discussions with five national parties and 16 state parties as part of its “feedback” and “grievance redressal” sessions with all stakeholders. Though Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had earlier this month addressed a press conference to allege “massive voter fraud” in Karnataka and is currently taking out ‘voter adhikar yatra’ in Bihar to claim ‘vote chori’ by EC in Bihar, Congress, ironically, is the only national party yet to show up at EC for a discussion on all issues of concern.
Though EC had originally scheduled such a meeting with the Congress on May 15, it was cancelled at the latter’s request; Congress is yet to indicate a new date. Also, after Rahul Gandhi wrote a newspaper article alleging arbitrary additions to the voters’ list and surge in polling after 5 pm during Maharashtra assembly poll, EC had written to him on June 12 inviting him to directly discuss his concerns. Rahul did not respond.
Interaction with all recognised political parties is only one among the 28 initiatives and reforms undertaken by EC since CEC Gyanesh Kumar took over its reins.
Among the big reforms introduced to enhance transparency, EC said, are unveiling a system for checking and verification of EVM micro-controllers and ordering mandatory VVPAT count in the event of mismatch between voters data entered in Form 17C (shared with the candidates and polling agents) and EVM data and where mock poll data was not erased erroneously.
Also included are proceedings against registered unrecognised political parties (RUPPs), with 334 defunct entities already delisted and delisting proceedings initiated against another 476 RUPPs.
EC, equally focused on enhanced use of technology, has ensured that 3 lakh duplicate EPIC numbers were cancelled. To ensure a user-friendly digital interface with the stakeholders, EC has subsumed 40 different apps developed over time, into a single portal/platform.
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