What's new

Ensuring high turnout was a big challenge in Maoist hotbed.

Daedalus

BANNED
Joined
Aug 8, 2012
Messages
842
Reaction score
2
Country
India
Location
China
Elections were largely peaceful in the state, which is a Maoist hotbed. What made it possible?

Barring a few isolated attempts to thwart poll proceedings, elections in Jharkhand have largely been peaceful. Ensuring violence-free polls topped our priority list this time and necessary measures were taken for the same. The standard operating procedures (SOP) were defined to polling officials beforehand and they followed it religiously. We had a clear strategy for deployment of security personnel in the Maoist hotbeds. We also managed to keep them guessing by successfully keeping the exact number of security forces under wraps. Overall, we had done our homework and the results, as you can see, are for all to see.

The Election Commission went all out to ensure maximum voter turnout, with there being a rise in poll percentage. Your comments...

We have been working hard to create awareness among the voters since 2010. A lot of planning went into it and we invited individuals, organizations and institutions to support our cause to which they readily agreed. Banners and hoardings were commissioned across the state. Our efforts paid off rich dividends as poll percentages went up. We are happy with the response so far, but would have been much happier if Jharkhand registered another five per cent rise.

EVM snags and mismanagement came as a setback in what was otherwise a perfect run.

EVMs being electronic gadgets are bound to encounter problems. Around 40,000 EVMs used in Jharkhand are more than eight years old. The faulty machines were replaced immediately and the electorate was saved from repolling in any of the booths. In case of voter slips, the respective district administrations are to be held accountable.

What was the biggest challenge during polls?

The biggest challenge was to bring people out of their houses.

Conducting peaceful polls in the Maoist-hit areas was another big challenge. Having failed to make a mark in the first two phases, Maoists were desperate to strike in the final phase and it was necessary for every one of us to remain vigilant and it was necessary for each of us to remain vigilant.
'Ensuring high turnout was a big challenge' - The Times of India
 
Back
Top Bottom