Eelection Commission wants government to expedite election reforms

LUCKNOW: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) SY Quraishi on Monday said that the Election Commission (EC) has requested government of India to expedite process of electoral reforms and is taking legal opinion on Team Anna's suggestion to introduce right to rejection option in the elections. Quraishi, who was in Lucknow to review preparation of state assembly elections due next year in April, told reporters that the electoral reforms include check on candidates with criminal records for contesting elections. When asked about Team Anna's suggestions to include right to recall and right to reject in elections, the CEC said that right to recall will lead to instability. Already, he said, people have the option to 'recall' (vote out) governments in five years. Regarding right to reject, which will provide people an option to reject all the candidates in the fray if they find none suitable for representing them in legislative bodies, Quraishi said, "Its a complex provision which may lead to legislation by candidates in case elections are cancelled. Even people may not like to come out and vote again. Another problem is arrangement of staff for election duties. But we are studying the viability of the provision." When asked about preparation of assembly elections in UP, the CEC said that EC is scrutinizing six districts in UP where unusually high number of firearm license have been issued in last couple of months. Thee six districts are Lucknow, Deoria, Hardoi, Chitrakoot, Azamgarh, Allahabad, Gorakhpur and Shahjahanpur. The CEC also said that EC is keeping an eye of the functioning of state government officials against whom opposition political parties have complained about behaving in a partisan manner. He said that EC's job starts after notification of elections but the commission is doing its homework. Regarding voter list, the CEC said after review exercise carried out in last five months, around 1.5 crore voters have been added in the list. The EC, he said, will first time in UP distribute photo voterb slips to people. Earlier, the exercise used to be done by political parties.The CEC said that EC is taking help of income tax department and its financial intelligence unit to put a check on poll expenditure.On election dates, Quraishi said that election schedule will be announced after consultation with union home ministry on availability of security forces. Quraishi said that EC is committed to conduct free and fair elections.