Central forces for UP poll nominations too

Lucknow: The Election Commission of India will deploy central paramilitary forces (CPMF) in the state ahead of the nomination process for UP elections. It would also keep a close watch on all police stations in the state to ensure fair polling. The ECI has asked officials to ensure at least 70% polling in the state.
"Based on the inputs from political parties that in certain polls, candidates could not even file their nomination papers, we will try to deploy CPMF well before the nomination process," Chief Election Commissioner Naseem Zaidi said here on Tuesday.He discussed poll preparations with district and police officials.
In a bid to ensure free and fair 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is planning to deploy central paramilitary forces (CPMF) in the state well before the nomination process, and at the same time. and monitor them very "minutely" and "strictly".
CEC said to create a conducive atmosphere for polls, sensitive locations would be identified. "Creation of police station level database would be done. It would be an online portal and would contain information such as history of crimes (in a constituency), nature of crimes, status of disposal of cases, who have been let off and against whom the cases are still pending," Zaidi said, and added that a strategy to tackle Left-wing extremism in the state would also be formed.
The CEC on this occasion also mentioned that the exodus of nearly 350 families from Kairana would be seen only from the poll point of view.
On unlicensed arms, the CEC said the bigger problem is the supply of ammunition. The CEC expressed his displeasure to the DMs and SSPs over laxity in the deposition of firearms. "In some districts, the deposition rate of the arms is as low as 5%. Preventive action must be taken well in advance and pending warrants be executed," said Zaidi.
, and that he has been assured by the DGP that intensive steps would be initiated to combat the menace.
Making another observation, the ECI said, "There are a number of police stations, which are meant to be manned by inspector level officers. However, those are manned by lower level officers, and this has a direct impact on the polls." To a question that over 50% police stations were being headed by the officers of a particular community, Zaidi said posting at police stations would be made as per the ECI's policy.
Listing some of the concerns conveyed to the ECI by various political parties, the CEC said, "The political parties want a robust management from the point of view of law and order. In some parts of the state there have been complaints over abuse of money and use of muscle power. Doubts have been raised that local police and homeguards can affect the polls, which has prompted us to undertake police station level review by the ECI."
On the issue of polling percentage, which was under the 60% mark in the 2012 assembly polls, CEC Zaidi, said, "We want to increase it, and take it to 70% -- 75%. "In UP, there are 13.80 crore voters with 100% electoral photo I-card. There are 94 lakh persons in the 18-19 year category, but only 4 lakh voters. Similar is the scene with women voters," Zaidi said. He also informed that the chief secretary has assured him that the state government would release Rs 60 crore for electrification of all the polling stations in the state (1.47 lakh). Apart from this, special camps would be held by booth level officers for registration of voters on October 8, 9, 22 and 23.