M A I N   N E W S

EC for videography in Majitha
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 15
Alarmed by several media reports over violation of code of conduct in the Majitha Assembly constituency, going for byelection on February 19, the Election Commission today ordered videography in sensitive and hyper-sensitive polling segments.

The commission, which reviewed the law and order situation and other poll-related arrangements in the constituency, hoped that videography of the campaign and movements of candidates and their supporters in sensitive and hyper-sensitive segments would help in checking malpractices, a senior official of told The Tribune here.

The commission made it clear that no MP or MLA having security cover shall be allowed to work as polling agent or counting agents of any candidate.

This direction would be applicable not only to Majitha but also to Assembly constituencies in other states going for by-elections.

Meanwhile, the commission’s Central Observer S Mendiratta has already reached Majitha to supervise poll arrangements and the preparation of electronic voting machines (EVMs), he said.

The commission also wanted the political parties and the candidates in the fray to familiarise themselves with the arrangements to protect their own interest.

The official pointed out that the commission on its part has already taken all steps to familiarise the candidates, political parties and the voters about the poll arrangements and the use of EVMs.

“Extensive demonstration on how to use EVMs has been made by the commission to educate the electorate of Majitha,” he said.

Since forthcoming Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and West Bengal will be conducted totally on EVMs, the commission is taking keen interest on the use of the voting machines in Majitha, the official said.

Allaying apprehension over “tampering” of EVMs and rigging of poll, he pointed out that the Election Commission has made adequate arrangements for the smooth and free and fair conduct of poll.

Meanwhile, according to sources, the Chief Election Commissioner Dr M.S. Gill, would visit Assam and Tamil Nadu next month to assess the law and order situation and other poll-related aspects.

Prelude to Dr Gill’s visit, two Deputy Election Commissioners, Subhash Pani and Sayan Chatterjee, would tour Tamil Nadu in early March and would have deliberations with state election commission officials to assess the position with regard to issue of photo identity cards and availability of EVMs, etc, sources said.

During their four-day visit they will also hold meetings with representatives of political parties and the commission officials there at Madurai, Tirichirapalli and Chennai, sources said.

Bhattal pulls up Garcha
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

Mattewal (Majitha), February 15
Even as the D-Day for the crucial Majitha byelection draws near, the cold war among different groups of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee continues.

Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, former Chief Minister, today reportedly pulled up Ms Lakhwinder Kaur Garcha, General Secretary PPCC, and in charge of the election office of the Congress, for keeping her in the dark on the scheduled poll rallies.

Ms Garcha informed Ms Bhattal at 9 am today that she was to address a poll rally at a specific village at 10 a.m. An angry Bhattal asked Ms Garcha why she had not been informed about the same last evening as it was almost impossible to reach the venue in an hour time. Ms Garcha had to apologise. She was a confidante of the PPCC chief. Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar, Congress member of Parliament and Vice-President, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, has given the much required impetus to the Congress campaign but the Amarinder group has showed no cooperation to him, except for Mr R.L. Bhatia, Congress MP.

Ms Garcha said she had no separate programme for Mr Brar as “he was like any other MP of the party.”

Interestingly, Mr Amarinder Singh, ended a rally after addressing it before Mr Jagmeet Brar could get up to address it.

Undaunted, Mr Brar said as per the party decorum, the PPCC chief addressed the gathering in the end. However, he thanked voters for listening to his ‘hourlong’ speech with patience, even as the PPCC chief left the venue.

However, Mr Partap Singh Bajwa, General Secretary, PPCC, claimed that Mr Amarinder Singh had to leave the venue due to some ‘pre-occupation’.

Though the entire leadership of the Congress belonging to various groups has reached the Majitha constituency, yet the differences among them are discernible, especially in the way they address poll rallies.

A senior leader of the party, on condition of anonymity, said Mr Brar agreed to address rallies today after a closed-door meeting with the candidate, Mr Savinder Singh Kathunangal, last evening. Mr Brar, who was reportedly, annoyed with the Amarinder Singh ‘coterie’ for not giving him a campaign schedule, was urged by Mr Kathunangal to address the rallies in his favour.

After the huge rally, Mr Brar told the media that though there could be difference of opinion on certain issues, yet the Congress would give a ‘united fight’ to the SAD candidate.

He said ‘minor differences’ would be sorted out after the byelection. To a question, Mr Brar said Mr Amarinder Singh was his leader.