Action against officials for playing favourites, no electioneering at places of worship: EC's directives ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha polls

The Election Commission of India (ECI) Saturday warned officials from playing favourites ahead of the Lok Sabha 2024 polls.

The ECI has directed all the district magistrates and superintendents of police to take strong action against officials who indulge in favouritism.

The directive comes at a time when the chief polling body is trying to ensure that the upcoming polls are “temptation-free (prahlohan-mukt)” and provide a level playing field to all political parties.

“Ensure impartiality with junior officials working at cutting-edge levels for level playing field. All the DEOs (District Election Officers) have been asked to immediately act on the complaint lodged by the political parties,” Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said during a press conference in Lucknow.

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Kumar also asked officials to check for cases of impersonation during the election process. The chief election commissioner said that immediate action should be taken against people, who are involved in fraudulent activities.

“SOP for defining the size of flag should be applicable equally to all. Counting of postal ballots should be held first. The movement of the EVMs should be in official vehicles,and the vehicles should be equipped with GPS tracking,” he said.

He added that a social media cell should be made at the district level for tackling fake news so that “false narratives are tackled immediately”.

‘Don’t seek votes based on caste, religion’

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In a strong-worded directive, the poll body on Friday asked political parties and leaders to refrain from seeking votes on the basis of caste, religion and language.

In an advisory warning the parties, candidates and star campaigners of stern action for any violation of the Model Code of Conduct, the EC also said that temples, mosques, churches, gurdwaras or any other place of worship should not be used for poll propaganda or electioneering.

Parties have also been asked to maintain public decorum while campaigning. It said that parties must run campaigns on issues rather than making factually incorrect statements that could mislead voters.

‘Some booths to be operated completely by women’

CEC Kumar said that the poll body will ensure that all sorts of facilities are provided to voters at polling booths.

“At every booth, all sorts of facilities will be provided. The aim is to make sure that the experience of voters will be good at the polling station. Some booths will be operated totally by women,” he said adding that over 7,26,000 first-time women voters have registered for this year’s election.

#WATCH | Speaking on the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar says, "The figure of first-time women voters is at 7,26,000 that is quite good...At every booth, all sorts of facilities will be provided. The aim is to make sure that the experience of… pic.twitter.com/praq6gx2DT

— ANI (@ANI) March 2, 2024

He added, “Those who are above 85 years of age will be given the facility to exercise their voting rights in their home. We want people to take part in electoral roles and then also come to vote, what we say ‘role to poll’.”

With inputs from agencies