New technology to ensure fair poll, says EC

Jitendra Kumar Shrivastava

Tribune News Service

Patna, October 3

The Election Commission has tightened the noose of the general administration and directed it to use new technologies to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections in poll-bound Bihar.

Efficient use of software such as Suvidha, Samadhan and vehicle management system (VMS) will facilitate the EC’s work.

The first software is a single window system for permissions and clearances of political parties, while the second one is a mechanism for redressing grievances. The third one will ensure timely online payment in accounts of vehicle owners whose vehicles would be used by the administration and it would check the interferences of intermediaries.

Additional Chief Electoral Officer R Lakshmanan said: “With the use of new technologies, we recovered a cash of Rs 11 crore and ceased 4 lakh litre of wine apart from 800 arms and 3,000 live cartridges. We have also equipped the vehicles of flying squad with GPRS that helps in tracking the expenditure related information. An intensive police checking is on to curb the use of money in 62 expenditure sensitive constituencies other than movement of liquor and arms.”

He said: “Our priority is to conduct elections in fearless condition for which we have deployed paramilitary forces in all sensitive areas. We have to curb the use of money, muscle and power in sensitive constituencies.”