Latest news with #ECI
Hans India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
ECI plans to redefine voting with major initiatives
New Delhi: In a sweeping drive to strengthen electoral management and improve voter facilitation, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has rolled out 21 major initiatives over the past 100 days. The reforms, introduced under the leadership of the 26th Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, showcase a big strategic push for several areas. These include procedural clarity, technological integration, and stakeholder inclusivity in the electoral process, say EC sources. These steps were charted out during the Conference of Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) held in March 2025. Election Commissioners (ECs) Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi were also present on that occasion. The initiatives represent a 'purposeful, pragmatic, and proactive' approach in the first 100 days of the new CEC's tenure, added the sources. One of the key measures includes reducing the maximum number of voters per polling station from 1,500 to 1,200. The purpose is to reduce congestion and ensure a smoother voting experience. To further improve access, additional polling booths will be established in densely populated areas, particularly in gated communities and high-rise buildings, so that no voter has to travel more than 2 km to cast their vote.
India Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Poll body's 21-point push for reforms: Meet with parties, fewer voters at booths
In a bid to strengthen electoral integrity, enhance voter convenience, and boost institutional efficiency, the Election Commission has rolled out 21 key initiatives within the first 100 days of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar taking the most significant steps is the Commission's renewed engagement with political parties, a move seen as crucial amid frequent criticism from losing parties, which often accuse the poll body of inaction against alleged malpractices by their initiatives mark a proactive and comprehensive push for electoral reform in the lead-up to the upcoming VOTER ACCESSIBILITY & BOOTH MANAGEMENT Polling Station Capacity Reduced: The maximum number of electors per polling station has been reduced from 1,500 to 1,200 to ease Booths in Urban Clusters: Additional booths will be set up in gated communities and high-rise Distance Minimised: The ECI aims to ensure that no voter has to travel more than 2 km to cast their Voter Slips: Voter information slips have been made more user-friendly, with a clearer display of serial and part Deposit Facilities: Mobile phone deposit facilities have been introduced at polling station entrances for voter Canvassing Rules: Candidate booths are now allowed within 100 meters of polling stations, reduced from the earlier limit of 200 ONE-STOP DASHBOARD FOR STAKEHOLDERSadvertisementTo simplify access to election-related services, the commission has introduced ECINET, an integrated dashboard combining over 40 existing apps and websites. This single-window platform will roll out gradually, with full implementation expected before the Bihar Assembly ELECTORAL ROLLS VIA TECH INTEGRATIONAutomatic Removal of Deceased Voters: ECI now receives real-time death registration data from the Registrar General of India, ensuring timely deletion after field verification by Booth Level Officers (BLOs).First Special Summary Revision Before Bye-Election: This marks a new practice under the Representation of the People Act, POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT4,719 All-Party Meetings: These were conducted at CEO, DEO, and ERO levels with over 28,000 party representatives BUILDING & TRAINING INITIATIVESTraining for BLOs & Supervisors: Over 3,500 officers have been trained at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM).1 Lakh+ BLO Supervisors to be Trained: This large-scale training will expand BLO capacity across Batches: Nearly 6,000 more BLOs/Supervisors to be trained by mid-July, with a focus on states like Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, West Bengal, Kerala, and Assam which would be going for assembly polls in the near MEET POLL BODY TO DISCUSS KEY ELECTORAL REFORMSIn a significant move ahead of the upcoming elections, representatives from several national and regional political parties met the Election Commission of India (ECI) at its New Delhi headquarters to deliberate on critical electoral reforms. The consultation aimed to foster dialogue and build consensus on measures to strengthen the country's democratic meeting witnessed active participation from leaders of major political parties, including the BJP, AAP, Trinamool Congess, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and several others. The commission reiterated its commitment to conducting free, fair, and transparent elections and welcomed inputs from all issues discussed included curbing the influence of money in elections, enhancing the accuracy of electoral rolls, preventing the misuse of social media during campaigns, and tackling the issue of candidates with criminal backgrounds. A major point of focus was the possible implementation of remote voting technology for domestic migrant workers, a move aimed at promoting inclusive electoral parties raised concerns over transparency in election funding, called for stricter enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct, and suggested robust mechanisms to regulate online campaigning. While opinions varied, most participants welcomed the Commission's efforts to initiate direct poll body assured the political parties that their suggestions would be thoroughly examined and incorporated, where feasible, into the formulation of future electoral policies. A detailed roadmap for reform, based on these consultations, is expected to be released in the coming Watch
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
A house in Patna & web of immigrants buying fake IDs
Lucknow / Patna: The arrest of Afghan national Jandullah Dad Mohammad, 29, from Lucknow airport on May 22 has led the Bureau of Immigration sleuths to a house in Patna, the address of which was registered against several duplicate IDs. Intel agencies are working to confirm if Jandullah's chance arrest has helped them step on a major racket where fake IDs and forged documents, such as ration cards and voter IDs, were being made for illegal immigrants or even wanted criminals. Just five-minute walk from Patna Junction, Wakil Anwer House tucked in the congested lane off Jamal Road is home to about two dozen rooms. To the Election Commission of India (ECI) and intelligence agencies, the house is a curious anomaly—a hub of questionable identities, with electoral rolls showing eerie duplication of names, ages, and fathers' identities. ECI's consolidated electoral list, published on Jan 7, 2025, under a special summary revision, revealed the building has 12 male occupants, all in their 20s and 30s except one, with no women registered. Alarmingly, at least four of them shared identical details: Same age, same father's name (Kabir), and multiple Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPICs). Electoral registration officer (ERO) Raghvendra Pratap Singh told TOI, "We were told by the occupants of the house that Jandullah had come to Patna some five years ago. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 나이 들수록 안 빠지는 복부 내장지방 뱃살 쫙 빠지는 "이것" 신현재 중년 복부비만 개선 더 알아보기 Undo His supposed brother Mansur left for Dubai six months ago, and there's no information about their father, Kabir." The ERO has ordered cancellation of Mansur's and Mohammad Sher Khan's duplicate EPICs, noting, "One individual cannot have two EPICs." The remaining occupants claim their ancestors have lived in India for decades, working as daily wagers selling dry fruits, carpets, sarees, bangles, or shawls. Singh has demanded their documents to ascertain their nationality. Syed Akbar Ahmad, one of the property's owners, told TOI about its long-standing Afghan connection. "Jandullah's father came from Afghanistan many years ago. Five years ago, the son came, but I don't have any idea about their whereabouts," he said. "It never occurred to me that I should ask for rent agreement or their police verification as they had been living here for several years," Ahmad said. He claimed Afghan tenants have resided on his property for over 70 years, with some families dating back to their grandfathers' time. "The tenants who started living on my property several decades ago have never left or been replaced," he added. Shayab Khan, a tenant in his early 50s, said, "My grandfather migrated to Patna 70-80 years ago. I have all identity proofs as a resident of India, including Aadhaar card, voter card, driving licence, and other documents. I have voted in both assembly and parliamentary elections at least 15 times." Khan's claim aligns with the historical migration of Pashtuns from Afghanistan to India, particularly before 1947, when many settled in cities like Patna to engage in trade. But things seem to have changed. Jandullah's case points to a sophisticated document racket likely operating from Patna. After entering India on a six-day medical visa in Dec 2019, he vanished from Delhi's radar. By 2020, he had acquired a full suite of fake Indian IDs, passing himself off as Rehan from Kotwali Patna.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Afghan jalebi: How a Patna building became hotbed for immigrants with multiple voter IDs
An Afghan National's Arrest At Lko Airport On May 22 Has Led Intel Sleuths To A Sophisticated Racket Of Forged IDs, Illegal Stay & Activities PATNA: Just five-minute walk from the bustling Patna Junction, stands an unassuming two-storey building painted ivory white. Known locally as Wakil Anwer House, this structure tucked in the congested lane off Jamal Road under Kotwali jurisdiction is home to about two dozen rooms. To the casual observer, it's just another residential building in Bihar's capital. But to the Election Commission of India (ECI) and intelligence agencies, it's a curious anomaly—a hub of questionable identities, with electoral rolls showing eerie duplications of names, ages, and fathers' identities. On May 22, the Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport (CCSIA) in Lucknow, some 500 km away, became the stage for a dramatic arrest. Jandullah Dad Mohammad, a 29-year-old Afghan national from the volatile Paktika province, was arrested by Bureau of Immigration (BoI) sleuths. He wasn't traveling as Jandullah. Instead, he carried an impeccable suite of Indian identity documents under the alias Rehan, son of Kabir, claiming residency at Wakil Anwer House. His Indian passport (C6978659), Aadhaar card (322874855132), PAN card (ETXPR8222K), driving license (BR0120210005369), SBI bank passbook, municipal corporation Patna issued birth certificate (B-2019 10-90097 025254), voter ID and even a ration card painted a convincing picture of an Indian citizen. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Understanding the Deep Decarbonization Pathways Project (Learn More) Search Ads | Advancing Sustainability Search Now Undo But a junior immigration officer's routine verbal check unraveled the façade. 'Aap Patna ke hain? Kahaan se hain wahan?' the officer asked. Rehan's Pashto accent, a remnant of his roots in Paktika—a rugged region bordering Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan—betrayed him. He fumbled basic questions about Patna, a city he claimed as home. His tone was 'all wrong,' the officer. Among his possessions, the BoI recovered an Afghan passport (P01694227) identifying him as Jandullah Dad Mohammad and an expired Indian medical visa (VL2796501) from December 2019. The discovery of $1,600 USD, 3,000 UAE Dirham, Rs 21,000, a UAE visa, hotel bookings, and three mobile phones—including a gleaming iPhone 16 Pro—only deepened the mystery. To the untrained eye, he was just a Bihari heading to Sharjah for work or leisure. But Jandullah's journey from Paktika to Patna to Lucknow's airport has left authorities scrambling to piece together a complex puzzle. A house of suspect identities The ECI's consolidated electoral list, published on January 7, 2025, under a special summary revision, revealed startling details about Wakil Anwer House. Located in the Bankipur assembly constituency and Patna Sahib parliamentary constituency, the building is listed under part name 147, Rajkiye Kanya Uchcha Vidyalay Dakbangla Road (Purvi Bhaag). The list records 12 male occupants, all in their 20s and 30s except one, with no women registered. Alarmingly, at least four of them—including Jandullah's supposed brother Mansur—shared identical details: same age, same father's name (Kabir), and multiple Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPICs). Rehan's EPIC (AFS3853934) lists him as 29, son of Kabir. Mansur, 30, son of Kabir, holds two EPICs (AFS4130290 and AFS4127999). Mohammad Sher Khan, 43, son of Mohammad Abbas Khan, also has two EPICs (AFS4129953 and AFS4125266). Other occupants include Imtiyaz Khan (25), Salim (26), Eshan Khan (26), Abdul Rehman Khan (24), Iqbal Khan (23), Shafi Khan (22), and Sharo Khan (22). Speaking to TOI, electoral registration officer (ERO) Raghvendra Pratap Singh revealed that investigations pointed to irregularities. 'During our investigation, we were told by the occupants of Wakil Anwer House that Rehan had come to Patna some five years ago. His supposed brother Mansur left for Dubai six months ago, and there is no information about their father, Kabir,' ERO said. Jandullah's real father, Dad Mohammad Khan, suggests the name 'Kabir' was part of the fabricated identity. An Indian passport (U2145507) of Kabir was issued on Feb 4, 2020, however a death certificate of his 'supposed' wife, designates him late Kabir. The deceased woman was identified as Bibi Danagai, who died on September 9, 2018. However, in Kabir's passport his wife's name is Bibi Dano, while in the birth certificate of Rehan's, Kabir's wife's name was mentioned as Bibi Aisha. Meanwhile, the ERO has ordered the cancellation of Mansur's and Mohammad Sher Khan's duplicate EPICs, noting, 'One individual cannot have two EPICs.' The remaining occupants claim their ancestors have lived in India for decades, working as daily wage earners selling dry fruits, carpets, sarees, bangles, and shawls. Singh has demanded their documents for verification to ascertain their nationality. Legacy of Afghan migration Wakil Anwer House's history adds another layer to the story. Syed Akbar Ahmad, one of the property's owners, spoke to the TOI team about its long-standing Afghan connection. 'Rehan's father came from Afghanistan many years back. Five years ago, his son Rehan came, but I don't have any idea about their whereabouts anymore,' Ahmad said. He said, "It never came to our mind for the rent agreement or the police verification of the Afghans as they were living for several years. However, the new occupants now sign a rent agreement and have to follow the police verifications." He further claimed that Afghan tenants have resided on his property for over 70 years, with some families dating back to their grandfathers' time. 'The tenants who started living on my property several decades back have never left or been replaced,' he added. Shayab Khan, a tenant in his early 50s, echoed this sentiment. 'My grandfather migrated to Patna around 70–80 years ago,' he told The Times of India. 'I have all identity proofs as a resident of India, including an Aadhaar card, voter card, driving license, and other documents. I have voted in both assembly and parliamentary elections at least 15 times since I became an eligible voter.' Khan's claim aligns with the historical migration of Pashtuns from Afghanistan to India, particularly before 1947, when many settled in cities like Patna to engage in trade. Web of forgery Jandullah's case points to a sophisticated document racket likely operating out of Patna. After entering India on a six-day medical visa in December 2019, he vanished from Delhi's radar. By 2020, he had acquired a full suite of fake Indian IDs, passing himself off as Rehan from Kotwali Patna. Authorities suspect a local network facilitated this transformation, providing everything from Aadhaar to voter IDs. The BoI's seizure of his documents has triggered a broader investigation into Wakil Anwer House and its occupants. 'We have asked the house owner to bring all related documents, including the rent agreement, to aid the investigation,' ERO Raghvendra Pratap Singh said. 'The case raises pressing questions: Who provided Jandullah with these forged identities? How did he and others secure multiple EPICs? What did he do for a living during his five years in Patna? And who else at Wakil Anwer House might be living under false pretences?,' said an intelligence officer. At least the ECI is working on the ground to verify the identities of all occupants, a process complicated by the lack of women in the electoral list. Broader context Jandullah's arrest comes amid heightened scrutiny of immigration and citizenship in India. The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA), offers a pathway for Afghan nationals of certain religious communities (Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians) who entered India before December 31, 2014, to apply for citizenship. However, Jandullah, whose religion remains unspecified in reports, appears to have bypassed legal routes, opting for forged documents instead. For Afghan nationals who settled in India before 1947, like some occupants of Wakil Anwer House claim, citizenship may be attainable through registration under Section 5 of the Citizenship Act, 1955, or the CAA if they belong to eligible communities. Yet, Jandullah's attempt to flee to Sharjah suggests a different motive—perhaps evading scrutiny or seeking opportunities abroad under a false identity. Though his e-visa copy read that Jandullah alias Rehan identified himself as a sales representative and was heading UAE for 30 days on tourist visa.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana west bypoll: Live webcasting from all polling booths to be ensured, says CEO
Punjab chief electoral officer (CEO), Sibin C, held a video conferencing meeting on Thursday with the deputy commissioner-cum-district election officer and the police commissioner of Ludhiana to review preparations for the byelection of the Ludhiana West assembly constituency. During the meeting, the CEO instructed officials to conduct the election process in a peaceful and transparent manner in accordance with the Act, rules and guidelines of the Election Commission of India (ECI). He directed the district election officer to ensure proper arrangements at polling stations, counting halls and strong rooms. He also emphasised that 100% live webcasting from polling stations must be ensured for real-time monitoring. To facilitate voters, Sibin C directed that assured minimum facilities (AMF) such as drinking water, waiting areas, toilets and heat protection measures at polling stations must be ensured. He also called for strict adherence to Covid-19 safety protocols. Regarding strong room security, the CEO instructed that robust surveillance systems must be implemented. He further emphasised prompt action on any violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and swift redressal of related complaints. He instructed officials to maintain a close watch on paid news and to ensure adequate food and accommodation arrangements for polling staff. To boost voter participation, he directed officials to intensify Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) activities. The CEO instructed the Ludhiana police commissioner to enhance vigilance during the last 72, 48 and 24 hours prior to polling and until the conclusion of the election process. Orders were issued to increase security at checkpoints and to monitor the movement of outsiders in the constituency. He called for 24X7 CCTV surveillance to curb illegal transportation of drugs, liquor, cash and other inducements. The CEO stressed that any complaints of inducements such as cash or other materials to mislead voters must be dealt immediately. The deputy commissioner-cum-district election officer and the police commissioner assured the CEO that all necessary arrangements for the byelection have been completed and that the election process will be conducted strictly in line with the election commission's directions. The meeting was attended by ADGP-cum-state police nodal officer MF Farooqui, additional CEO Harish Nayar, joint CEO Sakatar Singh Bal, election officer Anju Bala and other officials from the CEO's office.
