ECI may conduct HP poll before onset of snowfall : CEC

The team of twelve members Election Commission of India today gave a signal to hold Himachal Pradesh State Assembly Election before onset of snowfall on the high altitude district in state. Addressing a press conference at state guest house Peterhoff here today Chief Election Commissioner of India Rajiv Kumar said that political leaders who met with the delegation during this visit apprised ECI about onset of snowfall in three tribal Assembly constituency by Nov 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 ad date of Election. We will consider the inputs of political parties while declaring date of Election. He said that 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 was parts of this campaign. Mr. Kumar said that for the first time Braille enabled EVMs would be introduced in state assembly elections to facilitate the specialabled (Devyang) voters and this expansion would be further advanced by introducing sounds on the EVM to spell the name of candidate. He said that ECI couldn’t not play any role of Electrol bound to political parties as Supreme court has pronounced detail verdict  ending any further  scope of changing this provisions. ECI said that all the Government officers who are on the same seats would be reshuffled soon. He said that order has been given to Chief Secretary and Director General of police to immediately remove the government officers who are holdings their posts continue for 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 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. Election also launched an Apps in which all Political parties and candidate have to place similar information about their criminals precedence and background for the public. To ensure the free and fare election e-vigil being sounded in which citizens could place their information on the apps about the Election rigging and malpractices. ECI also amended the the electoral age for participating in the poll as for the first time all young 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 enrolled new voters for completing 18yrs of age. To achieve the high turnout several programs were launched by ECI in Himachal Pradesh under campaign SVEEP drive. He said that ECI would also try to trace the details of those government officials who in more than 500 at one place would not caste their votes as after the election nodal officer of ECI would visit such employees to know about them and their records would also be maintain for further action. CEC said that state have 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 specially abled and 67793 service electrol . State have around 127662 and 1294 voters who are octogenarian and centnarian.