Chhattisgarh gets poll panel okay to implement pay commission

May 12th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Expressing displeasure with two candidates in Himachal Pradesh who violated the poll code, the Election Commission Tuesday asked the authorities to file a case against them. The poll panel said that cases should be filed against Lok Janshakti Party's (LJP) Keshab Chauhan and sitting MP and Congress candidate Chander Kumar - both fighting elections from Kangra constituency - for having more than four people accompany them when they filed their nominations.

May 9th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Election Commission Saturday assured the opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) that its decision to set up task forces to consider repolling in some areas of Bihar was in the interest of free and fair polls. An NDA delegation met the Commission and pointed out that 'the past practice has been to order repolls within a few days of the main poll, primarily on the recommendation of the observer and the returning officer' but this was the first time task forces were being set up to look into complaints of rigging a full 23 days after polling.

May 8th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Election Commission Friday deputed six teams of two officers each to look into the complaints received during the polling in various parliamentary constituencies in Bihar. 'In view of the persistent complaints regarding some polling stations in different constituencies, the commission has decided to send today (Friday) the teams to visit Aurangabad, Saran, Jamui, Maharajganj, Jehanabad, Munger and Gaya and submit the feedback,' the poll panel said in a statement here.

May 4th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Election Commission Monday let off the officials of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, responsible for releasing advertisements which violated the model code of conduct. Appearing before the poll panel, the director general of the organising committee said the release of the advertisements was not intended to violate the poll code and 'it was totally a bonafide exercise', Election Commission officials told reporters here.

May 2nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Election Commission Saturday asked the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) to explain why its advertisement of the New Pension Scheme' had been different from the version for which the poll panel had given permission. The poll panel asked the pension authority to explain the deviation and non-compliance with the panel's order for the advertisement which appeared in the Hindu newspaper.

May 1st, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Election Commission Friday asked the chief secretaries and chief electoral officers of all states to ensure that children below the age of 14 are not employed in any election-related work. 'The Commission has taken strong exception to use of children in work connected with elections.

April 17th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Election Commission Friday announced doubling of the compensation amount from Rs.500,000 to Rs.1 million for poll officials who fall victim to attacks by extremist or anti-social elements during the elections. 'Vide its order dated February 17, 2009, the commission has doubled the amount of compensation from Rs.500,00 to Rs.1 million for ex-gratia payment to election related officials in the event of any mishap,' the Election Commission said in a statement issued here.

April 14th, 2009 BHOPAL - The Election Commission will file cases against candidates found campaigning for other contestants in the same constituency, Election Commissioner Navin Chawla said here Tuesday. 'The Election Commission is going to keep a close watch on such candidates,' Chawla told reporters.

April 7th, 2009 LUCKNOW - The Election Commission Tuesday ordered the Uttar pradesh government to remove Principal Home Secretary Kunwar Fateh Bahadur ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. According to an official spokesman, the commission has sought a panel of three names to finalise the next incumbent.

April 2nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Election Commission Thursday said it would make voting arrangements for the people who have fled their states and are living in refugee camps in the country. 'The Election Commission will make all arrangements in the refugee camps in Jammu, Delhi, Kandhamal and Chhattisgarh so that people (living in camps) could cast their voters,' Deputy Election Commission J.P.

April 2nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Election Commission Thursday issued a notice to Anant Kumar Hegde, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lok Sabha candidate from Uttar Kannada, for making inflammatory remarks in a poll meeting. The poll panel said it has come to its notice that Hedge conducted a election meeting in Mundgod in his constituency March 21, where he made a statement that 'if Muslims do not stop violence, it will be difficult to celebrate Id-Milad'.

April 1st, 2009 NEW DELHI/JAIPUR - The Election Commission Wednesday said it will verify the contents of a CD showing Bharatiya Janata Party leader Jaswant Singh distributing money at a poll meeting in a Rajasthan village. The administration of Rajasthan's Barmer district, where the BJP leader was videographed giving money to a woman, has sent its preliminary report to the poll panel, said district collector of Barmer.

March 14th, 2009 RAIPUR - The Election Commission Friday approved the name of A.M. Nawani as Chhattisgarh's new director general of police (DGP) in place of incumbent Vishwaranjan, officials said.

March 11th, 2009 RAIPUR - The Election Commission has asked the Chhattisgarh government to remove the state's Director General of Police Vishwaranjan, official sources said here Tuesday. 'The Commission has asked Chief Secretary P.

February 25th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Election Commission Tuesday termed as speculative media reports that it would announce the schedule of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections this weekend. 'I don't have any information.