Prevent tainted officers, state machinery misuse during elections, SP delegation tells EC

The EC is holding these interactions to enable political parties to share their concerns and suggestions directly with the panel. In a statement issued on Thursday, the Commission said the initiative to hold these meetings aligns with its broader vision of further strengthening the electoral process in accordance with the existing legal framework with all stakeholders.

Sources said the SP delegation told the EC that the administration and election-related authorities did not take cognizance of the complaints of misuse of state machinery and police that the party had raised during the general elections and bypolls held in UP in recent years.

The SP delegation cited the complaints filed by its leaders during the Milkipur (February this year) and Kundarki (November, 2024) Assembly bypolls in Uttar Pradesh, both of which were won by BJP candidates. It alleged that the EC did not take action against poll officers whom the SP accused of working in support of BJP candidates and intimidating the voters.

The delegation suggested that the EC take effective measures to prevent misuse of state machinery during elections. It also suggested that political parties should be allowed to distribute voter slips during the elections and should be engaged in increasing the voter turnout.

The Commission has already met delegations of several parties, including the BSP, BJP, CPI (Marxist), National People’s Party, Aam Aadmi Party, All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP).

The EC in its statement said that in March this year, a total of 4,719 all-party meetings were held, including 40 meetings by CEOs, 800 by DEOs, and 3,879 by EROs, engaging over 28,000 representatives of various political parties.