ECI does not get into individual allegations: CEC Sampath

The Election Commission of India today refused to be drawn into a controversy over allegations levelled by the Samajwadi Party that the poll watchdog was "biased" towards the BJP.
"The Commission doesn't get into individual allegations. We can't get into a public debate. These are allegations made from time to time. We don't get drawn into such controversy," Chief Election Commissioner, V S Sampath said here this evening, reacting to the SP's allegations that the ECI was biased towards the BJP.
Responding to a query on SP leader and Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan's threat to move the Supreme Court against the ECI order banning him from campaigning, the CEC noted that the Commission would not get into individual allegations.

Asked if the ECI would provide "relief" to Azam Khan, similar to the one given to BJP leader Amit Shah, Sampath remarked, "It is for him (Khan) to decide whether he wants relief or not."
The CEC, along with election commissioners Hari Shankar Brahma and Nasim Zaidi and other officials of the Commission, was here today to review the preparedness of the administration for conduct of elections to Lok Sabha and the state Assembly on April 30 and May 7.
"We have reviewed the preparedness for the polls. We met representatives of recognised political parties, who offered good and positive suggestions. They also offered full support to the ECI in election management," Sampath said.

Subsequently, the CEC and ECs held a review with Collectors and Superintendents of Police of all districts and top police officials.
This was followed by a meeting with Chief Secretary Prasanna Kumar Mohanty, Director General of Police B Prasada Rao, Principal Secretary (Home) T P Das and other officials.
Of the total 70,171 polling stations across the state, 25,319 have been classified as "critical and hyper critical".