Patna: Asserting that it was committed to holding a fair and peaceful Assembly poll in Bihar due early next year, the Election Commission today (Dec 9, 2004) asked the State Government to immediately launch a special drive against antisocial elements, recover illegal firearms and execute all pending non-bailable arrest warrants.

Stating that the Commission was still undecided about whether to hold a one-day poll or go for a two or three phase polling, Election Commissioner B B Tandon said at a press conference after reviewing poll preparedness with top Bihar officials that strict monitoring would be ensured for smooth conduct of the polls.

"We are determined to hold a fair and peaceful Assembly poll and for this we have asked the Bihar Government to launch a special drive against undesirable elements, recover illegal firearms and execute all pending non bailable warrants of arrest," he said.

Tandon said that two special observers would be appointed by the EC to monitor the elections, besides one general observer in each of the 243 assembly segments and one expenditure observer in each of the 38 districts.

Earlier there used to be only one general observer for every district. The Commission had asked the State's Chief Secretary K A H Subramanian to transfer all poll-related officials who had stayed at one place for more than three years and not to involve those, against whom there were charges of electoral misconduct in the last Lok Sabha polls, in the coming assembly elections, he said.

Stating that the EC had in the past received complaints about "tainted" officers being present in constituencies during polling, Tandon said that the Commission had asked the State Government to submit a compliance report regarding their transfer by December 20 and ensure they were not physically present during the polling.

The Election Commissioner said that he had instructed the State Government to fill all vacant posts of returning and assistant returning officers immediately.

"To the maximum extent, possible officers drawn from Central Government services would be posted as presiding officers," Tandon said and adding that the Commission will assess the requirement and availability of Central Para-military Forces (CPMF) for their deployment for area domination and static duty at polling stations.

He said that bank officials would be drafted for polls only if their absence did not affect the functioning of the banks.

Tandon, who held talks with representatives of various political parties last evening (Dec 8, 2004), said that barring the CPM (Communist Party of India Marxist), which favoured a two-day polling, all others, including the ruling RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) and opposition NDA, had sought a one-day poll.

"We have all options open. There can be a one-day or two or three phase polling," he said.

The Commission also instructed the State Government to launch a special drive for preparation of photo identity cards to cover at least 65-70 per cent of electors. "For those who are left out, we will prescribe alternative documents to be presented at the time of voting, but establishing one's identity will be mandatory," he said.