EC to replicate Bihar Assembly poll guidelines for TN election

“We will replicate the successful model practiced in Bihar elections in the elections. We will finetune some of the guidelines for the coming elections and will try our best in ensuring tight money control”,he told reporters here.

As per the guidelines,all the candidates would have to open a special bank account for election expenses and the election expenditure would be monitored by an observer,he said after conducting a series of meetings with top officials.

The Commission would appoint IAS officers as election observers besides having digital video monitoring of the polls.

On the paid news issue,he said they have requested the Press Council of India to set up a committee and to inform the Commission if paid news was carried by any media.

“In Bihar alone,86 cases of paid news notices were given by the Press Council and candidates have confessed to it..”,he said adding they were examining what action could be taken.

On whether single phase polling in Tamil Nadu was feasible,he said almost all regional and national political parties whom the Commission met today,have sought single phase polling.

“We have to examine whether it can be done.. We will take a view on that after conducting similar exercises in other states facing polls next year,” he said.

On whether Tamil Nadu was ready for the polls,he said 67 per cent of the people have enrolled in election rolls which is really a “healthy” sign while 99.68 per cent of people have enrolled themselves in electoral photo roll list.

Asked about the issue of freebies by political parties during election season,he said they would keep an eye on such freebies given to the public.

“If they had mentioned it in the manifesto,then it is fine but if there is anything to induce voters,then an election observer will take a note of it”,he said.

The dates for elections to the Tamil Nadu,Kerala,West Bengal,Puducherry and Assam assemblies would be decided after the Commission completes its review meetings in West Bengal and Assam,he said.

The Commission had already held review meetings in Kerala,Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.