Assembly Elections 2017: It is ‘desirable’ to have a new law to deal with electoral offences, says CEC Nasim Zaidi

Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi stressed on the need for a new law to deal with dynamically evolving political situations during elections. “It is ‘desirable’ to have a new law to deal with electoral offences,” Zaidi said on Thursday.

Zaidi was speaking a day after assembly elections 2017 concluded in five states, including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab and Manipur.

“The Commission noticed that many people tried to be tangential to model code of conduct in these polls, thus sidestepping its provisions”, Zaidi added.

“Election management, social and political situations are dynamically evolving and it is likely that in future some law is needed to deal with a particular situation... it is desirable,” Zaidi told PTI.

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At the same time, he stressed that the Commission is equipped with all that’s necessary to deal with issues of electoral violations.

“You cannot say Commission at present is ill-equipped. It is equipped with a framework and strict implementation will continue. But depending upon the situation arising from election to election, new legal framework may be needed,” he added.

Zaidi spoke at greath length on multiple issues arising out of the violations.  Rejecting allegations that the Commission used different yardsticks for different people, he made it clear that the Commission always examined facts and circumstances in all cases.

“Cases which are similar in nature will get similar treatment to the extent possible. Model code remains an effective instrument...when you start taking action against some, others get the message,” he said.

With PTI Inputs