No early assembly elections: EC

Asked about Director General of Police P S Gill and Principal Secretary to the chief minister,D S Guru,planning to contest the elections,he said: “Let them contest,there is no ban on contesting elections.” But at the same time,he warned officials against misusing the official machinery and interfering in the election process. “The officials should play non-partisan role and be neutral,otherwise action will be taken against them. The Commission will be monitoring both Gill and Guru,” he added.

Admitting that the EC has received complaints against Gill,Quraishi said: “We have received some complaints against the DGP,including that he posted some 350 guards in Moga. The complaints are being verified and action can be taken as per law.”

On the demand for deployment of 400 companies of paramilitary forces for the elections,Quraishi said that the Commission will review how many companies are required to be deployed.

“The photo voter list and EPICs will be completed by October-end in Punjab. Also,this time the EC will give voter slips to the voters as against the earlier practice of parties giving these slips to voters. The state government has assured us that the remaining posts of returning officers and assistant returning officers will be filled soon and officials who have completed more than three years of service at one place and those posted in home districts will be transferred.”

Remove DGP Gill: Congress

The Congress on Tuesday sought immediate removal of the DGP P S Gill and Principal Secretary to the chief minister,D S Guru. The party also demanded that elections be held in one phase and SGPC elections be put on hold till the Assembly polls. A party delegation led by Congress Legislative Party leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal met Chief Election Commissioner S Y Qureshi in this regard.

While the Shiromani Akali Dal on Tuesday raised the issue of non-serious and dummy candidates as well as paid news with the EC,it also sought an increase in the ceiling limit on expenditure in the elections. In a representation to the EC,SAD Secretary and Spokesman Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said that the Commission should strictly curb the entry of non-serious and dummy candidates to conduct fair and peaceful elections.