To ensure smooth and fair practices around the polling booths during elections, the Election Commission is in charge of all activities. Recently, the Election Commission asked the authorities in Uttar Pradesh to ensure fairness in the bypolls. The Election Commission took this action after controversy emerged over checking voters’ identities The poll body has also suspended 7 police personnel so far on the grounds of violating voter guidelines, based on complaints by the Samajwadi Party.
“All police officers who are checking voter cards and Aadhaar IDs should be immediately suspended on the basis of video evidence. Police have no right to check Aadhaar ID cards or identity cards,” he tweeted.
“No eligible voter should be prevented from voting. Any kind of biased attitude during voting will not be tolerated. On receiving a complaint, there will be an immediate investigation. If anyone is found guilty, strict action will be taken,” the ECI said in a statement. The police p[ersonell are hail from from Kanpur district, Muzaffarnagar districts and Moradabad.
- Bypolls hapenning in
- Ghaziabad,
- Katehari,
- Khair,
- Kundarki,
- Karhal,
- Majhawan,
- Meerapur,
- Phulpur,
- Sisamau.
Rajiv Kumar, the Chief Election Commissioner, has instructed the state’s Chief Electoral Officer and all district-level officials to ensure a fair and smooth voting process. “Take immediate note of all complaints and take immediate action. Along with this, inform the complainant about the action taken through social media by tagging them.”
Election Commission too action, What Actually Happened?
The suspension was made following the accusations made by Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav. He claimed that the officers were checking voter ID cards and Aadhaar cards without lawful permission. He also urged the EC to take action based on the complaints posted on its social media accounts. According to him, certain communities were being prevented from voting.
“We have lodged multiple complaints. It seems that the senses of the Election Commission have dulled. It can neither see nor hear despite so many complaints. The BJP wants to win these by-elections not by vote but by ‘khot‘. Fearing a defeat, the BJP is pressuring the administration to indulge in foul play,” the SP chief said.
After the action was taken, Akhilesh yadav responded and asked the people who were allegedly stopped from voting to go to polling booths and cast their ballots again.
“After talking to the Chief Election Commissioner of the country, on the basis of video and photo evidence, corrupt and biased police officers have been suspended, and the remaining guilty officers are going to be suspended. Therefore, you should go without any fear and stand in the queue,” he said.