CEC refuses to comment on Kejriwal's reaction to censure
The Election Commission had on Saturday censured Kejriwal for his bribe remarks made at a poll rally in Goa.
Panaji, Jan 22: Chief Election Commissioner Syed Nasim Zaidi on Sunday declined to comment on Arvind Kejriwal's comments wherein he had said he would challenge the EC's order censuring him for his statement that voters should take money offered by rival parties but vote for AAP.
"ECI has passed the order. The commission would not like to join the (debate over) issue. Commission order is clear and it is available in public domain and we won't like to comment on it," Zaidi told reporters in Goa, when asked for his reaction on Kejriwal's statement.
The Election Commission had on Saturday censured Kejriwal for his bribe remarks made at a poll rally in Goa and said if he continues to violate the model code of conduct, stern action would be taken against him and his party, including suspension or withdrawal of recognition to AAP.
The AAP chief had later termed "illegal, unconstitutional and wrong" the EC order censuring him and said, "I would be challenging the Election Commission's order."
Meanwhile, Goa will be the first state in the country to opt for electronic transmission of postal ballots to service voters during the upcoming Assembly elections.
"The
Returning
Officers
will
transfer
the
postal
ballots
to
these
service
voters
by
electronic
means
so
that
the
service
voters
can
download
it,
fill
it
and
send
it
to
returning
officer
by
e-mail,"
Zaidi
said.
He
said
sending
postal
ballots
by
electronic
means
will
cut
down
the
time
in
transmitting
them
to
the
service
voters.
"We
hope
that
large
number
of
our
service
voters
will
be
able
to
utilise
this
facility.
This
would
be
the
first
in
region
and
around
the
globe.
That
is
a
matter
of
great
pride
for
all
of
us,"
the
CEC
said.
Also, all Assembly constituencies in the state will have the Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines.
"This will be used all over the state to ensure transparency of the process to the voter. It will assure the voter that his vote has gone to the right candidate," he said.
The ECI has taken steps to keep a check on casinos, state border and airport, to ensure free and fair polls.
"There was a fear that casinos can be misused with respect to cash withdrawal and distribution. This morning itself we have reviewed with state administration and Director General of Police and in particular, we have roped-in senior officials from Karnataka and Goa into the process," Zaidi said.
He said an Air Intelligence Unit has been deployed at Dabolim airport to the check movement of money or any undesirable elements through flights. He also said Income Tax department is keeping a close watch on "clandestine currency exchanges and the movement of money through banking channels. We have directed Returning Officers that affidavits filed by candidates must be uploaded so that IT officials can carry out real time scrutiny of these affidavits under IT laws."
PTI