Partisan acts won't be allowed: EC to Punjab bureaucracy, police

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 16

A day after concerns over “biased” bureaucracy and police were aired by political parties, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) has given a stern warning to the state’s bureaucracy to either act impartially or be ready to face the consequences.

In a press conference, CEC Sushil Chandra along with Election Commissioners Rajiv Kumar and Anup Chandra Pandey said police and civil officers had been warned against acting in a partisan manner during a meeting.

In figures

• Total voters: 2,11,31,138
• Male: 1,11,08,057
• Female: 1,00,22,396
• Others: 685
• Voters in the 18-19 age group: 1,72,608
• Polling stations: 24,689 | Urban: 7,727 | Rural: 16,962

Assembly term ends on March 27

• The state Assembly term ends on March 27, 2022
• 165 polling stations to have women polling staff
• Persons with disabilities to manage at least 56 polling stations
• Due to social-distancing norms, only 1,200 voters to be allowed at a polling station

Chandra said, during an interaction on Wednesday, various parties claimed that the bureaucracy and police acted in a biased manner. The commission had taken cognisance of the issues raised by them, he said, adding that the top brass had been told that the poll process was different from other government work. He made it clear that the Election Commission of India (EC) was committed to conducting the polls in a free and fair manner.

He said the EC had a zero tolerance towards abuse of money power or government machinery. The district officers have been instructed to monitor expenditure in sensitive constituencies and ensure comprehensive and coordinated actions.

He said the enforcement agencies had been directed to step up vigil to ensure that inter-state and cross-border movement of drugs, liquor and cash was effectively checked.

The Election Commission has reviewed the concerns cited about the law and order situation with the District Magistrates and police officers.

Significantly, the Aam Aadmi Party, Shiromani Akali Dal and BJP had separately expressed concern over the recent postings of SSPs and “biased attitude” of bureaucracy at a meeting on Wednesday.

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