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Candidates complain intimidation, EC seeks protection

STAFF CORRESPONDENT
The Election Commission (EC) fears a pre-election 'law and order breakdown' and has asked the authorities concerned to take necessary steps for fair Union Parishad polls.
The EC at a meeting yesterday also reviewed the complaints from election candidates about 'irregularities in nomination filing, setting up of new polling centres and threats from other contestants'. Press reports on law and order breakdown and violation of election codes of conduct also came under scrutiny in the meeting, sources said.
"The deterioration of law and
order is a matter of concern especially at a time when we are fully prepared for the Union Parisad polls," Chief Election Commissioner MA Syed told the meeting, quoting newspaper reports.
Syed also asked the law enforcement authorities to let the EC know from time to time what measures are being taken to ensure free and fair polls, sources in the EC said.
Meantime, the commission sits today to review the recommendations of the just-concluded five-day meeting with the filed-level election officials who demanded army deployment during the polls. The two-month long UP polls begin on
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January 25 and will run through March 16.
Yesterday's meeting looked into over 500 complaints from contenders who came to the EC after they had felt ignored by the local election authorities.
Many of the contenders have stated that they felt insecure due to threats from 'certain quarters' on them to quit the election race. Fearing violence and rigging, they have requested the commission to deploy troops.
EC officials were also optimistic that army would be deployed during the polls.
"We are still hopeful of troops deployment since the prime minister has not said anything on the issue yet," one election commissioner is quoted to have told the meeting.
The two-hour meeting also had a detailed discussion on the overall election preparation, accreditation of local and international election monitors.
The EC would now send the government a letter stating the view of the field-level election officials about the election atmosphere.