Biennial Election to the Council of States from the State of Jharkhand- new measures introduced by the Commission

With a view to curbing the use of money power in the election process, the Election Commission had rescinded its earlier notification on allegations of large scale involvement of cash as inducement and other malpractices during election process and announced fresh notification for biennial election to the Council of States from the state of Jharkhand vide its Press Note No. ECI/PN/30/2012 dated 10th April, 2012.

For the first time, the Commission has directed the Chief Electoral Officer, Jharkhand to open a complaint monitoring Control Room and 24x7 call centre, to receive complaints from public about malpractices during the biennial election to the Council of States. The Flying Squads and Static Surveillance Teams have also been constituted to attend to complaints of malpractices during election process. The Commission has appointed an Expenditure Observer to keep a close vigil on any movement of unaccounted cash during election process. The Commission has also directed the Director General of Income Tax (Inv), Patna to keep strict vigil at the Airport, Railway Stations, important Hotels, farm houses, hawala agents, financial brokers, cash couriers and other suspicious agencies/persons to check the movement of undisclosed cash during the run up to biennial election for Council of States from Jharkhand.

The national and state political parties have been advised to exercise self restraint while carrying cash during election period. Each contesting candidate has also been asked to submit the account of election expenses along with affidavit before the Returning Officer within 7 days from the date of declaration of results.