After the violence that followed the election in Andhra Pradesh last year, the Election Commission of India acted quickly by calling for a meeting of the state’s highest-ranking administrative and police officers (the chief secretary and the Director General of Police). It reminded the administration about the significance of maintaining principles in the Model Code of Conduct as it showed how worried it was at how the government had failed to stop the violence
According to sources, the Election Commission has been on high alert throughout, emphasising the necessity of a peaceful democratic transition. In-person, Rajiv Kumar, the Chief Election Commissioner, has been viewing the election landscape to make certain that there is no violence or threat of force.
The present officials have been asked to explain in firsthand the events that led to violence soon after the elections. They will have to explain what was done or not done to avoid similar events occurring again in days to come. The gravity of the situation is stressed by requiring the Commission to appear before the public in person
Someone from a faction of the YSRCP accused someone from a wing of the TDP of causing the disturbances, which ensued after the general elections were completed with post-election violence recorded in some parts of Andhra Pradesh.
The reminder from the Election Commission of the role of officials in upholding the sanctity of the electoral process is striking. In any democracy, the peaceful conduct of election holds priority and when this principle is violated, appropriate measures are undertaken instantly and firmly.
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As the summoned officials prepare to face the Election Commission, the onus lies on them to provide transparent and comprehensive explanations for the lapses in containing post-poll violence. Additionally, proactive measures must be outlined to ensure that such incidents are averted in future electoral processes.
To strengthen fair and peaceful elections, The Election Commission has always been committed to making all the stakeholders commit equally, This puts responsibility on everyone; political parties or security agencies, to respect elections and ensure relations based on decency.