Amid complaints of horse trading of the elected members of district and block Panchayats ahead of the crucial second stage of the Panchayat elections, the State Election Commission (SEC) has set up complaint cells. The State Election Commissioner, Chandrasekhar Bhatt, also took a meeting of the officers of the police and administration on the day and directed them to ensure that the incidents of threatening and luring of the elected members of Panchayats are prevented.

In the second stage, the elected members of the district Panchayat would elect President and Vice Presidents of the district Panchayats while the elected members of the Block Panchayat would elect Block Pramukhs, senior deputy Pramukhs and junior deputy Pramukhs. On Tuesday, the CEC, Bhatt took a meeting of the district magistrates, senior superintendent of police (SSP) and Superintendents of Police (SP) of all districts of the state barring Haridwar via video conferencing.

In the meeting the CEC directed the officers to ensure free and fair elections. He said that the orders of the Uttarakhand High Court (HC) dated October 17 should be followed. Bhatt also dwelt on the sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), relevant to the elections and their enforcement on the occasion.

He said that the complaints registered at the district level complaints cells should be promptly addressed. The CEC also said that the action taken on the complaints should be informed to the commission. He clarified that the complaint does not only mean written ones but the officers should also take cognizance of the complaints in the newspapers, channels and other means. Bhatt said that after registering FIRs on the complaints, the police should send a copy to the commission.

He also said that the videography of the polling booths should be done and carrying of mobile phones and camera to the polling booth would not be allowed. Restrictions under section 144 of IPC would be applicable within 200 mts of the polling station.

On the day the SEC also set up ‘complaint redressal cells’ in all the districts and appointed officers in-charges in them. 

The SEC has taken note of the complaints of horse trading and attempts of the parties to lure the independents into their fold for the second stage of the Panchayat elections. On Monday, the police raided a hotel in Dharchula where 34 elected members of district and block Panchayats were hoarded.

These members belonging to Chamoli were allegedly being taken to Nepal.