EC will work for fair and impartial elections: CEC

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Nasim Zaidi today said the EC will work to strengthen its image of impartiality and neutrality and ensure that the task of conducting free and fair elections in the country is done diligently.
The CEC, while unveiling EC's first newsletter at the Commission's headquarter here, urged his colleagues to work in the direction of ensuring integrity and promptness in their work related to mitigating the problems of voters as the over 85 crore electors of the country highly trust and respect the poll panel and on this pedestal it stands "only next to the Supreme Court."

"I always say that 170 crore eyes are watching us. That is the extent of our (reach)...We may not realise but each and every activity of every member (of EC) remains under the watch of the voters.
"We have, in all elections, contributed to neutrality and impartiality and therefore the perception of voters about our organisation is very very important. Each one of us has to ensure that there is not an iota of dilution of the perception of our work...We may do the best of work but if the people feel that our work is not fair or neutral and that we have not run a good election then there is a issue," the CEC said.

Therefore, he added, the EC officers and staff must ensure that every action by them including works like the disposal of emails sent by voters must generate and strengthen the "positive perception" of the working of the EC.
"Therefore, I will appeal to all of you to help us in preserving this trust and confidence (reposed by voters) and also (work towards) continuing with our strongest instrument that is our neutrality and impartiality," he said.

Zaidi said the EC is taking a number of steps to better the working conditions of the about 350-strong staff of the poll panel here even as they are trying to put in place an effective public grievance redressal mechanism for the voters.

During the event, the CEC also welcomed and introduced newly-appointed Election Commissioner Achal Kumar Joti to the EC staff as this was the first time the latter was meeting his colleagues in the 'Nirvachan Sadan' in a full-fledged manner.
Joti was appointed to the poll panel in May this year.
The newsletter, Joti said, will be available both in English and Hindi versions and will also be hosted on the official website of the EC.
EC Director Dhirendra Ojha, who heads the newsletter editorial team, said the first publication of the EC has encapsulated activities of three months from April to June and and will have various events chronicled in it that took place at the poll body during this time.