PARALAKHEMUNDI, April 27: Despite threats from the Maoists and several other related factors, the peacefully passing off of the first phase of the elections, could be attributed to the painstaking planning and efforts of the Gajapati district police along with the support of the administration.
The Lok Sabha and Assembly election that was conducted on the 16th of this month in Gajapati was the most peaceful polls ever held. Right after the declaration of the elections, the police were on their toes as they very well understood that there were two important factors that stood out as a challenge for them.
While the radical organizations affiliated to CPI (Maoist) had called for a boycott of the polls, the communal tension was the second most important issue for the police.
In the aftermath of the killing of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati in Kandhamal district, there was retaliation in Gajapati with minority community people being allegedly targeted in the blocks of Rayagada and Udayagiri. Thankfully due to the timely intervention of the district administration and some stringent action by the police, the riots could be controlled but the thin fabric of communal harmony that was prevalent between the two communities was destroyed overnight.
Friends became enemies and the social fabric was demolished in many villages of the district. “We had a challenge of keeping the Maoists away from the polls and at the same time see that the communal harmony is not disturbed through any hate speech or any other means by any candidate or political party at any point of time,” said collector Mr DV Swamy.
It was a tiring effort as the State Election Commissioner had directed to conduct a free and fair election at any cost demanding stringent action against any officer who failed to execute his election duties fairly and impartially. Right from the day of the notification, the administration which was already straddled with shortage of officers, had to make an all out bid to create a team of officials who would handle all the tasks of the election process starting from the nomination to the casting of votes.
The two Central observers deputed to for the two Assembly segments of the district also had their work cut out as they had to ensure that the voting was fair and total, with every citizen getting a chance to cast his vote without fear. They visited every nook and corner of the district, even the Naxal infested villages in order to apprise them of the ground reality.
“They readily ventured into the areas where there were reports of Naxal movement after there were reports in media about possible poll boycott in some villages due the pressure from the radicals,” said one officer who was accompanying the observers.
The superintendent of police, Mr Safin Ahmed Khan, had informed that more then 75 per cent of the 440 booths as sensitive or hyper-sensitive.
This helped in the long run as adequate forces were in place before the electioneering started, which motivated and assured the common men to come out and vote in large numbers. Some of the villages which are reportedly influenced by the radical movement like Raipanka, Paniganda, Aliganda, Kirama, Parisal and others saw heavy voters’ turn out.
To counter the communal menace, the candidates had been warned beforehand not to indulge in any type of practice that would create communal tension, and the leaders of both the communities were asked to maintain restrain during the course of campaign. Observers were deputed to all the important meetings organized by the different political parties, and proceedings were video-graphed.
The Union minister of state for rural development, Mr Chandrasekhar Sahu, who was seeking renomination from Berhampur Lok Sabha segment was asked to trim down his campaign cavalcade or face action, and he had to oblige, sources said.
The candidates contesting from the Mohona Assembly segment faced threats to their lives, especially while moving in the interior blocks. But the police who were keeping tabs on their movement had advised them to return back to their headquarters before sunset, and with all candidates heeding the police advice there was no attack on them.
“The successful conduct of the voting especially in the Naxal infested area is proof that the police have successfully managed to keep the radicals at bay, and we will continue in our endeavor of educating the common villagers that supporting the radicals will never help them in the long run,” said the SP while overseeing the final phase of the voting in one of the sensitive booths.
At the same time, he expressed displeasure over a section of media going overboard by sensationalizing the boycott call of the radicals which was done through circulation of posters and pamphlets.