KEEP FAITH, CASTE AWAY FROM POLLS: CEC

Chief Election Commissioner O.P. Rawat on Friday cautioned political parties that action will be taken if they use religion and caste to divide voters during their election campaigns.

After reviewing the poll preparedness of Telangana in Hyderabad for two days, he said that the EC has directed the state election machinery to ensure effective monitoring and vigilance at all levels to address the concerns of political parties and instill confidence in the electorate to exercise their franchise.

Mr Rawat was addressing a press conference and said that the EC has further directed that the entire electoral process must be conducted in a free and fair manner and steps must be taken to ensure that every elector is able to exercise his/her franchise without any threat, intimidation or inducement.

He said certain political parties have brought to the Commission’s attention instances of candidates making appeals based on caste. In a recent election the EC had restrained a senior leader of a political party from the campaign based on a complaint that he was making appeals based on caste and religion.

He said he had reviewed the law and order situation and directed the state administration and police to take further steps to tone up security and law and order environment and intensify preventive measures.

He said the EC has directed that measures be used to prevent money and gifts distribution and to check the distribution of liquor during the election process.