Opposition alleges ‘saffronisation’ as Bihar renames, repaints 551 schools
A political controversy has erupted in Bihar over the colour scheme of 551 newly launched Model Schools inaugurated by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Sunday.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday underscored its commitment to free and fair elections by empowering citizens to report poll violations during the Bihar Assembly Elections and eight simultaneous bye-elections across seven states. Voters and political parties can now use the C-Vigil app on the ECINet platform to lodge complaints related to Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violations, the poll panel said in a press note.
To ensure strict enforcement of the MCC, the ECI has directed the respective state and Union Territory governments to comply rigorously with its instructions. As part of the enforcement mechanism, 824 flying squads have been deployed across Bihar, tasked with addressing complaints within 100 minutes from the time of lodging.
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Since the launch of the app, a total of 650 complaints have been registered via the C-Vigil App in the Bihar elections and bye-election areas. The Commission reports that 649 of these complaints have been resolved, with 612 complaints — approximately 94% — attended to within the 100-minute window, showcasing the efficiency of the system.
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In addition to the digital platform, a comprehensive complaint monitoring system has been instituted, featuring a 24×7 operational call center reachable at 1950. This facility allows any member of the public or political party to report complaints directly to the District Election Officer (DEO) or Returning Officer (RO) concerned.
The coordinated efforts of multiple enforcement agencies have also resulted in significant seizures of unaccounted cash, liquor, drugs, precious metals, and other electoral freebies. To date, seizures amounting to over Rs 71.32 crore have been made across various states and union territories involved in the elections.
This integrated approach reflects the Commission’s proactive stance in leveraging technology and enforcement to uphold electoral integrity and ensure a transparent, fair electoral process.
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