New measures introduce by EC for Rajya Sabha poll

     New Delhi, April 19, 2012: The Election Commission of India has advised all political parties to exercise self restraint while carrying cash during Rajya Sabha Election.

     “The national and state political parties have been advised to exercise self restraint while carrying cash during election period,” an Election Commission release said here.

     The Commission has also introduced new measures of the biennial election to the Council of states from Jharkhand, a neighbouring state which was created along with Chhattisgarh in November 2000 by the Vajpayee Government.

    With a view to curb use of money power in the election process, the Election Commission had rescinded its earlier notification on allegations of large scale involvement of cash as inducement and other malpractices during election process and announced fresh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 from Jharkhand, it said. 

    For the first time, the Commission has directed the Chief Electoral Officer, Jharkhand to open a complaint monitoring Control Room and 24×7 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 also 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 (Investigation), 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 seven days from the date of declaration of results.