Tags:
Journalism of Courage
The Ministry of Home Affairs, closely coordinating with the Election Commission, has said that nearly 35,000 central security force personnel would be required to ensure that polls are conducted peacefully.
Ideally, the Home Ministry has said, elections should be held in five phases, giving enough time for movement of forces. However, they have also suggested a four-phase alternative.
‘‘There should be at least five days’ gap in between phases. This would mean a five-phase election. But since last time the EC insisted on a four-phase election, we have also prepared a detailed plan accordingly,’’ MHA sources said. Ultimately, the ministry had convinced the EC for a five-phased poll structure in 1999.
According to sources, EC has again been asking for a four-phase election. In view of that, the MHA has suggested two modules, giving details of availability of security forces and the required movement on basis of sensitivity of the states. ‘‘We are also prepared for polls in four phases, if the EC so insists,’’ an official said.
The EC’s logic, according to sources, was that the security personnel were also required to guard the ballot boxes. So if the polls were held in five phases, it would spread the forces thin over a longer period of time.
