Page 120 - Leap of Faith Vol - 2

Leap of Faith Journey of Indian Elections

CEC N. Gopalaswami takes a review meeting with officials on election preparedness, December 20, 2006

mandatorily file affidavits containing information on events during the elections, and polling at sensitive and
criminal antecedents, movable and immovable assets of hypersensitive polling booths on the polling day. The
self, spouse and dependents, and educational qualification instructions had to be complied with, without impinging
th
while filling nomination papers. The polls were conducted on the secrecy of vote. B.B. Tandon became the 14 Chief
in four phases between April 20 and May 10, 2004. The Election Commissioner on May 16, 2005.
overall voting percentage was 58.07 percent.
Elections in Bihar did not give absolute majority to any
On July 5, 2004 the Chief Election Commissioner addressed party/alliance and no new Legislative Assembly could be
a letter to the new Prime Minister viz. Dr. Manmohan Singh constituted. It necessitated fresh elections in the state,
on a series of electoral reforms proposals. Out of 22 such held in four phases between October 18 and November
proposals sent, 15 were completely new. 19, 2005. An interesting decision taken by the Commission
in these elections was lawfully deleting the names of
The elections to the legislative assemblies in three states those electors who were declared as absconders or
viz. Haryana, Bihar and Jharkhand in February, 2005 untraceable for six months. This was done to prevent
should be remembered for the scrupulous manner in criminal elements from contesting polls. By forfeiting their
which the Model Code of Conduct was implemented. For status as an elector they became ineligible to qualify as a
the first time, the Election Commission instructed and candidate under Section 19 (b) of the Representation of
issued detailed instruction for videography of critical the People Act, 1950.

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