Ahead of Mizoram polls, the Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat on Wednesday said in Aizawl that the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on decriminalization of politics would be strictly observed and candidates have to clearly mention the stages of criminal cases against them in their affidavits, according to agencies reports.
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The CEC was in Mizoram with two Election Commissioners- Sunil Arora and Ashok Lavasa – and four senior officials to review the poll preparedness for the November 28 assembly election.
Rawat while addressing media persons in Aizawl on Wednesday said the candidates’ affidavits would be immediately uploaded on the Election Commission’s website.
Notably, the apex court had categorically stated on September 25 last that criminalization of politics ‘strikes at the very root of democracy by making the citizenry suffer at the hands of those who are nothing but a liability to the country’.
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Earlier on Tuesday, the CEC along with the other members of the Election Commission interacted with representatives of various political parties and also from administration as well civil society to review the poll preparedness for polling on November 28 next.
A close watch would be kept on bank accounts of candidates to detect suspicious transactions, Rawat further said.
The CEC also exuded confidence that polling in Mizoram would be a free, fair, peaceful and smooth one to elect the new legislators for the 40-member Assembly.
He also said that the State Government has been instructed to ensure availability of drinking water, toilet and electricity in all polling stations while ramps should also be made for persons with disabilities.
Rawat further assured that at least one polling station, manned only by women election and security officials, would be established in the State.
At least 80 flying squads would keep a close vigil on the candidates to ensure that no cash, liquor or drugs are used and the expenditure monitoring would include utilization of GPS to monitor movements of suspected parties, he added.
Mizoram and four other states are going to polls over the next two months.