Electoral Officers Conduct 4,000 Meetings to Tackle Booth-Level Issues
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Synopsis
On March 22, 2023, the Election Commission of India announced that 4,123 Electoral Registration Officers are conducting meetings with political parties to resolve complaints about bogus voters and polling booth issues. The initiative aims for completion by March 31 across all Assembly constituencies.
Key Takeaways
- 4,123 EROs are holding all-party meetings.
- Focus on addressing bogus voter complaints.
- Meetings aim to resolve issues by March 31.
- Participation from national and state political parties.
- Initiative aligns with ECI's legal framework.
New Delhi, March 22 (NationPress) In an effort to tackle the prevalent concern of alleged bogus voters, a total of 4,123 Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) are engaging in all-party discussions to address outstanding polling booth issues, as announced by the Election Commission of India on Saturday.
The meetings have commenced with the involvement of national and state political parties, and the initiative aims to be finalized in every Assembly constituency, district, and state/UT by March 31, as per official statements.
This initiative at the grassroots level has been positively received by political parties, who are actively participating in the discussions across various states/UTs.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has instructed all 788 District Election Officers (DEOs) and 36 Chief Election Officers (CEOs) across the 28 states and 8 Union Territories to conduct similar meetings to resolve any outstanding concerns at the district and state/UT levels, adhering to the legal framework established under the Representation of People Act 1950 and 1951, the Registration of Electors Rules 1960, and the Conduct of Election Rules 1961, along with the manuals and guidelines issued by the ECI.
This ongoing dialogue with political entities aligns with the directives from Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi, who introduced the initiative during a conference with CEOs from all states/UTs, as well as one DEO and ERO from each state, on March 4 in Delhi.
Political parties and their authorized representatives, including Booth Level Agents (BLAs), Polling Agents, Counting Agents, and Election Agents, have defined roles in various electoral processes, as indicated in the statement.
Previously, the Commission urged all national and state political parties to utilize this grassroots engagement with electoral authorities to address any unresolved issues promptly.
This initiative coincides with a meeting of a 10-member delegation from the Trinamool Congress MPs with the ECI, discussing the issue of bogus voters in West Bengal and raising concerns regarding duplicate EPIC numbers allegedly being used in different regions.
The delegation, comprising both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members of the Trinamool Congress, submitted a memorandum to the ECI requesting detailed information on the number of EPIC cards with duplicate numbers across the country and their distribution by state.
In West Bengal, over 7.5 crore voters are expected to elect 294 new legislators around April-May next year. In the 2021 Assembly elections, the Trinamool Congress secured 215 seats in the House, surpassing the majority threshold of 148.
