Poll Panel passes 2017 exam with flying colours
NEW DELHI: A high-voltage poll season across five states has finally come to an end on Thursday, concluding what many in the Election Commission consider as one of the most peaceful elections ever conducted in India.
With the dangers of polarisation looming over the Hindi heartland of UP, considerable movement of narcotics in Punjab, and a not so optimum an environment in Manipur, the elections were a challenge. And it took heavy deployment of technology, besides conventional paramilitary presence and administrative acumen, to ensure that the polls were free and fair.
About 20% of the polling booths in UP, 45% in Punjab, 100% in Goa, and a good number in Manipur were covered with multiple layers of scrutiny involving live webcasting of polls for a smooth election.
Meticulous drills were carried out in the states with the EC keeping a close watch, in some cases, even watching live feed of the electoral process at polling stations. In one such instance, EC officers watching the webcast from Nirvachan Sadan in New Delhi, noticed certain suspicious persons loitering around a polling booth in Manipur while voters queued up nervously.
The EC gave instant directions, and the persons were made to leave the booth within minutes. Though the elections across five states have been more or less ‘incident free’, considerable preventive action had to be taken on ground to keep things under check.
Data accessed by ET show that between January 4 and March 8, 2017, 195 illegal arms manufacturing units were raided and seizures made in UP, 725 licensed arms were impounded, and 948 armed licences were cancelled.
With the dangers of polarisation looming over the Hindi heartland of UP, considerable movement of narcotics in Punjab, and a not so optimum an environment in Manipur, the elections were a challenge. And it took heavy deployment of technology, besides conventional paramilitary presence and administrative acumen, to ensure that the polls were free and fair.
About 20% of the polling booths in UP, 45% in Punjab, 100% in Goa, and a good number in Manipur were covered with multiple layers of scrutiny involving live webcasting of polls for a smooth election.
Meticulous drills were carried out in the states with the EC keeping a close watch, in some cases, even watching live feed of the electoral process at polling stations. In one such instance, EC officers watching the webcast from Nirvachan Sadan in New Delhi, noticed certain suspicious persons loitering around a polling booth in Manipur while voters queued up nervously.
The EC gave instant directions, and the persons were made to leave the booth within minutes. Though the elections across five states have been more or less ‘incident free’, considerable preventive action had to be taken on ground to keep things under check.
Data accessed by ET show that between January 4 and March 8, 2017, 195 illegal arms manufacturing units were raided and seizures made in UP, 725 licensed arms were impounded, and 948 armed licences were cancelled.
