Chief Election Commissioner, OP Rawat would be in the state capital again for a review meeting on November 19. Highly placed sources say that CEC Rawat was not impressed by the poll preparations made by the state. In his visit, Rawat would specially emphasised on complaints made by various political parties and their redressal. Several complaints were made against the jan abhiyan parishad and cooperative societies staff yet no effective action was taken in the matter, said an official.
Shivraj’s government had already issued a gazette notification for making provisions for the president/political appointments to take over as administrators of the societies. Complainants said that the BJP was using this provision to its advantage. Similarly there were complaints against jan abhiyan parishad staff. They are accused of working in favour of the BJP. Complaints were filed from several districts across the state. Letters sent by the election commission recommending disciplinary action to the concerned department were not being properly addressed, said an official.
Sources say that there was a legal tangle in addressing both the complaints. It is said that Rawat would sit with senior officials of the state government and the election commission to first understand the legal tangle and then seek redressal of the complaints. In his visit with the full bench of ECI recently, CEC Rawat had sought report on complaints made by the parties. Several questions were replied in mechanical language, “We have written letter” or ‘We have recommended disciplinary action’ but the CEC was not impressed with the answer and asked for the action taken report. Sources hint that some big moves could be taken before visit of CEC Rawat.
