Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Nasim Zaidi on Wednesday stated that elections in all poll-bound States, including Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, would be completed before May 31.
“We have to complete the polls before the term of the Assembly expires. That is the constitutional mandate laid down for us,” Mr. Zaidi told reporters .
The eight-member Commission which comprised Election Commissioners A.K.Joti and O.P. Rawat and other officials, has been visiting all poll-bound States . The Commission is looking to increasingly deploy voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) ballots in the elections.
The 20,000 VVPATs that are currently available would be distributed in all states.
“In future, we will use VVPATs across the country,” the CEC said.
Asked whether the commission would take action against people who have started distributing money and other freebies in some areas well before the model code of conduct comes into force, the CEC said the Income Tax Department would keep a close watch on them.
“Individuals or organisations that distribute money or gifts should be kept under watch so that when elections are announced we will probably take all those things into account, and take action,” Mr. Zaidi said.
The Commission held discussions with representatives of political parties, and Chief Secretary Manoj Parida, CEO V. Candavelou, IGP Praveer Ranjan, and officials from I-T Department and other enforcing agencies.
