New Delhi, Dec 2:
Chief election commissioner Sunil Arora, who assumed charge on Sunday, said the Election Commission was already in the thick of preparations for Lok Sabha polls due next year and its priority was to give the country “a fair, credible, free, impartial and ethical election”. “The internal preparations started some time back. We will try to meticulously prepare on all fronts, whether it is electoral register, EVMs and VVPATs, dissemination through our very credible programme of SVEEP, ensuring voting for our soldiers through ETBPS (postal ballot) and for persons with disability”. “In that Ashok Lavasa, my batchmate and fellow commissioner, whoever joins as the other commissioner and all my colleagues in the ECI, elicit and solicit cooperation of all stakeholders including political parties, members of the civil society, NGOs, media and all those who have a stake in a big effort like elections to the Lok Sabha,” he told reporters. Arora said it was “with utmost humility and enormous sense of responsibility that I have taken over as chief election commissioner”. “All of us in the Commission shall continue to put our best foot forward to meet the expectations of all stakeholders strictly in consonance and conformity with the vision and ideals of the Constitution of India, especially the Preamble thereof,” he told reporters after assuming charge.
Arora credited the sheer dedication of many illustrious CECs, election commissioners and all those working in the Commission as well in the field formations for making EC an iconic institution that the entire democratic world looks up to. “For those countries transiting towards democracy, this Commission is a beacon of hope,” he noted.
On the committee set up in January this year under senior deputy election commissioner Umesh Sinha to suggest modifications to Section 126 of RP Act, 1951 and model code of conduct (MCC) and also examine difficulties faced in regulating media platforms during the prohibitory 48 hours in a multi-phase election, Arora said he has been assured by Sinha that its report shall be submitted by December end for perusal and consideration of the Commission.
Though the committee was to submit its report in 3 months, sources said Sinha has been unable to put it together yet due to his preoccupation with back-to-back elections through 2018.
