New Delhi: Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said that Rajya Sabha polls were successful but the conduct of Bihar assembly election will pose a formidable logistics and health safety challenge for authorities. In an exclusive interview with ETV Bharat’s Arshdeep Kaur, Sunil Arora shared views on issues like impact of a pandemic on elections, mitigating steps and enforcing Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in the times of digital campaigns. Edited Excerpts:
Q: Amid a raging pandemic, the Commission conducted Rajya Sabha polls in June 2020. Please share the challenges faced by you?
Ans: ECI successfully held polls for the Rajya Sabha, on 19.06.2020, for 19 seats spread over 8 states. The poll process was seamlessly integrated with COVID–19 containment measures in force. On the direction of the ECI, all State governments designated a Nodal Officer for the Covid-19 containment compliances. Accordingly, on the actual day of the poll, out of the approximately 1000 electors, only one confirmed case of COVID-19+ve (in Madhya Pradesh) was reported and voting was ensured after all other voters had cast their vote. One more case of a suspected Covid-19 elector was reported from Rajasthan who was also permitted to cast his vote after the other electors had cast their vote. Though there was no hospitalised case among the electors but the Commission has created special facilities for such a situation.
Q: The number of COVID-19 cases is increasing in the country. In such a situation whether Bihar assembly election and MP bye-polls will be held? What is your preparation to ensure the safety and security of voters and the polling process?
Ans: Necessary preparations to conduct Bihar Assembly Elections in time, are underway at the level of Election Commission of India, the CEO of Bihar and at the District level. Election schedule will be worked out keeping in view all logistics, and pandemic status concerns. During the pandemic, all instructions for electoral processes would be suitably modified to ensure requisite arrangements of social distancing and sanitization. All stakeholders especially the Political Parties during their campaigning also will have to collectively ensure that the relevant safety guidelines. ECI guidelines pertaining to electoral machinery, voters, political parties, candidates and other stakeholders are being tweaked. A reassessment of procedures at various stages of the election is being worked out by a team of officials in the Commission. The Commission will make greater use of digital and media platforms, including bulk SMS, and social media among others. Voters Guide will be updated to reflect the COVID19 imperatives. The Commission has also directed that number of electors per polling station (PS) will be restricted to a maximum of one thousand (as opposed to the current limit of 1500). Auxiliary polling stations would be created - for instance 33797 additional PSs are being planned for Bihar. Optional postal ballot facility will be provided to senior citizens who are above 80 years of age, Persons with Disability, electors engaged in essential services, and voters who are COVID-19 positive /suspect in quarantine (home/ institutional). In compliance with the directions of the Commission, CEO Bihar has already conducted meetings with all concerned recognised political parties. CEO Bihar is also taking necessary actions (including awareness, special camps) in accordance with ECI's guidelines/instructions, for continuous updation of Electoral Roll, in all the districts of Bihar. India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) has already trained State Level Master Trainers on various aspects of elections for Bihar. At present, all the Returning Officers, in batches, are being trained in the State.
Q: There will be large gathering in assembly rallies and polls, what measures EC will take to minimize the health risk and how will you enforce MCC on virtual rallies?
Ans: The Commission is seeking views of National and concerned State recognised political parties on the matter of public campaigns in the context of COVID-19 guidelines. We are also examining the views of political parties sent by CEO Bihar. As far as public gathering at rallies is concerned, Covid19 guidelines already prescribe specific norms of social distancing etc, their violation will be an offense the NDMA, 2005. ECI has arrangements in place to monitor election campaigning. Every candidate has to provide the details of their social media accounts at the time of filing nomination. The extent of 'Political parties are now doing digital campaigns and virtual rallies' is still to be tested as election campaigning hasn't started as yet. It needs to be seen whether and to what extent virtual campaigning will be used by candidates, who are covered under the expenditure ceiling. As Political Party's campaigns are not limited by any expenditure caps, ceilings would not affect the political parties.
Q: Some parties opposed the decision to allow people above 65 years and COVID patients and suspects as it may violate the secrecy clause. What’re your views on it?
Ans: The guidelines issued by the National Executive Committee, under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, says vulnerable persons such as the persons above the age of 65 years, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women, and children below the age of 10 years, shall stay at home, except for meeting essential requirements and for health purposes. Commission considered these extraordinary situations and decided to recommend the extension of postal ballot facilities to two identifiable categories: (a) electors above 65 years of age; and (b) electors with COVID-19 positive/suspect, who are under quarantine (Home/Institutional) to avoid their presence in the polling stations and yet not to deprive them of their voting rights. The entire process of postal ballot voting will be under the supervision of Polling staff on duty and the entire process will be video-graphed candidates will be kept informed. So each postal ballot vote remains secure, safe and transparent.
Q: Overall, how do you see a change in the election process due to pandemic?
Ans: COVID-19 has impacted every aspect of life including elections. It has thrown new challenges for all of us. In this context, the conduct of elections will not be easy. Advance planning with mobilization of resources will be key to success. Though the scale in the recently held Rajya Sabha elections was smaller but our new SOPs got tested and are getting modified with experience. It is fully realized in the Commission that the logistics of modifications thus required for Vidhan Sabha Elections would be formidable. Hence the preparations for suitable arrangements, without compromising on the quality, are being looked into. We are confident we will be able to fine-tune logistics and requirements for conducting forthcoming elections too.COVID-19 situation will also display the strength and tenacity of our robust electoral system.
Q: Would you like to share your experience on travel curbs and how ensured decision making from the US?
Ans: The kind of restrictions on movement including international travel by flight could not have been foreseen when I left for Michigan on March 7 this year with plans to return by April 4, 2020. Despite unprecedented curbs coming into effect as the infection spiralled, work of the Commission could not be allowed to suffer. Technology these days addresses many constraints and helps resolve communication barriers even across seas. I was able to keep in touch with office colleagues despite differing time zones and take timely action. Apart from regular issues, I was even able to conduct the full Commission meeting through video conferencing from the US on May 1, 2020, to schedule the Biennial Election to the Maharashtra Legislative Councils for the nine vacant seats of the MLC.
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