Imphal, Dec 17 : To combat muscle and money power in the coming Manipur assembly polls, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is prepared to closely monitor the expenditure and activities of the candidates through 'effective' mechanisms.
The crucial tenth state assembly polls is most likely be held in February next year and political parties have already begun rolling out informal campaigns to woo the voters.
The election should be free and fair, peaceful and transparent, and maximum participation of the electorates needs to be ensured for a stronger democracy, said ECI (education, communication, information) director general Akshay Rout at a media conference in Imphal on Thursday.
On Wednesday, chief election commissioner of India SY Quraishi said the movement of individuals and goods along all routes in and out of the state would be closely monitored to check the use of black money in the ensuing polls.
Stating that media is the eyes and ears of ECI, Rout said media reports of violation of any provisions under the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and the election model code of conduct would be taken as (suo motto) complaint.
Pointing out that the one of the main challenging tasks for the commission is to fight 'paid news', he said a unit christened Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) would be opened in all districts to combat this phenomenon.
"If any candidate is suspected to use 'paid news' to his advantage as per any media report, the ECI would send a notice to the particular candidate and take necessary action against him / her according to his / her replies," he said, adding that the incumbency power of the ruling party or parties is also one of the main concerns to be challenged.
Pointing out that the Systematic Voter Education and Electorate Participation (SVEEP) programme has also been launched by the ECI, Rout strongly advocated that people should not vote under the influence of bribe.
Echoing Rout, the commission's director general (expenditure monitoring division) P K Das said the commission would set up checkposts, flying squads, complaint cells and a toll-free hotline for the complainants to check bribing of voters.
Stating that both giving and taking of bribes are equally punishable, he said once the complaint is received, the flying squad would rush to the spot and take necessary action.
For effective monitoring of election expenditure, all candidates should open a separate account in the bank one day ahead of filing their nomination papers, he said, adding that income tax officials would also be deployed at strategic locations.
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