SHILLONG: The Election Commission has asked the state machinery to ensure that headmen do not interfere in the Assembly polls.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Chief Election Commissioner Om Prakash Rawat said the EC was committed to preventing any influence by village councils (Dorbar and Rangbah Shnong) on the voters.
He said the commission would make sure that every citizen exercises franchise freely.
According to Rawat, the state administrative set up should keep an eye on this and build up pressure on village councils since they are also democratic institutions.
The official also said appeals and persuasion will have to be made and if that does not work, enforcement action should be taken against the village councils by the administration.
Stating that the commission is aware of the role of village councils and their influences, Rawat said, “The village council in the Sixth Schedule areas is a legal entity and hence they will be persuaded not to resolve to any such unlawful means to influence voters,” Rawat said.
Muscle power
To a question on muscle power, Rawat said the central security forces will be deployed to check the menace. “The security forces are doing area domination to build confidence among the electors and with the enforcement, voters should feel free and exercise their franchise,” Rawat said.
Hate speeches
After political parties raised the issue of hate speeches by candidates during the polls, the chief election official said there is a need to stop this at the earliest.
“We will not allow any aberrations and election officials will take action to ensure that these do not vitiate the poll and campaign process,” he said.
