Election ’98 in four phases

Assembly polls in Meghalaya, Tripura, Nagaland, Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat and bye-elections in 21 legislative assembly seats would be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls. Polling in Jammu and Kashmir will be spread over three days, February 16, 28 and March 7.

With the announcement of the poll dates, the moral code of conduct for political parties and candidates comes into force, Gill, flanked by his Commission colleagues G V G Krishnamurty and J M Lyngdoh, told a press briefing here. “The moral code of conduct comes into operation with immediate effect,” Gill said, adding that since the Lok Sabha was dissolved on December 4, the political parties have been observing the code unofficially.

Also with the announcement of the election schedule, there will be no more registration of new political parties. West Bengal leader Mamata Banerjee’s newly-formed Trinamul Congress was among the last parties to be given an election symbol today: grass and two leafy shoots, symbolising the name `trinamul’ meaning `grassroot’.

The bulk of the 543 Lok Sabha constituencies will vote on February 16 when 222 constituencies will go to the polls, including the states of Assam, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan and the National Capital Territory of Delhi.

Polling in the large states like Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu will be spread over two days, February 16 and 22.

On February 28, Kerala, Goa, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, and Daman and Diu will cast their vote.

Another set of large states, namely Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa and West Bengal will go to the polls in two phases on February 22 and 28. The counting of votes for the Meghalaya Assembly and two Lok Sabha seats will be held on February 23 since the state assembly has to be sworn in early.

While counting for the entire country will begin on March 8, the counting of the last phase of Jammu and Kashmir will commence on March 9. The counting and formal declaration of the results will be completed by March 12. With the election schedule out, political parties would now begin the intensive exercise of selecting candidates. The Commission made a plea that parties reject any candidate with a criminal or shady past. “Surely out of 100 crore Indians and with over 60 crore voters, we can find 543 upright and adarsh persons to represent the people,” said Gill. The Commission also voiced its concern that civil servants and police officials carry out their duties without fear or favour so that every candidate got a fair chance at the hustings.

Expressing his satisfaction at the numerous rounds of discussions held with the Home Ministry over the security arrangements, Gill said sensitive areas had been identified and special efforts were underway to ensure peaceful conduct of the campaign and polls.

State government and district officials have been alerted that there is to be no new licencing of weapons. Police have been given powers to raid the factories where small arms, ammunition and weapons like `desi kattas’ are manufactured. “Heavy police action will be undertaken to take over all unauthorised weapons,” said Gill. Orders have gone for the detention of known bad characters and history-sheeters under preventive arrests.