Election Commission asks SPs to map vulnerable places for Assam polls

GUWAHATI: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has asked the Superintendent of Police (SP) and deputy commissioners in Assam to map all vulnerable places for conducting free and fair polls in Assam next year.

The full Bench of the Commission including Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi and Election Commissioners AK Joti and OP Rawat held discussions with political parties, deputy commissioners and superintendent of police on Monday and Tuesday.

Zaidi said that information technology based applications will be elaborately used in Assam polls. “For giving permission to political parties within 24 hours, online system of Suvidha will be launched. Similarly voters can register their complaints using application Samidhan. For hiring and payment of vehicles during the election, commission will do it through the online platform Sugam."

Zaidi added that political parties have expressed apprehension about the role of money and muscle in next year's election.

“The superintendent of police and deputy commissioner have been instructed to have intensive scrutiny of hooligans and criminals, who were found involved in incidents of violence and all these persons should be kept under watch. Commission would also monitor all incidents which has political overtones taking place before the Assembly polls,“ he said.

The chief election commissioner said that election commission will try and cover maximum polling station with Central paramilitary forces.

There are around 25,000 polling stations across the state, around 250 polling stations will be made model polling stations.