ECI finds no merit in charges against Maha CEO and hiring of agency in 2019 polls

@prashanthamine

Mumbai: In two charges related to Maharashtra, the Election Commission of India (ECI) in recent days has found no merit in charges made against its Maharashtra, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO Maharashtra), Baldev Singh and the other pertaining to hiring of a private advertising agency for creating voter awareness in the 2019 Lok Sabha and the subsequent Assembly elections.

In the first instance, the ECI on August 7 in reply to Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) spokesperson Sachin Sawant contentions raised over the appointment of Baldev Singh as its CEO Maharashtra, the poll body pointed out that the 1989 batch bureaucrat had been appointed to the post after following due laid down procedures.

The ECI pointed out CEO’s in states and union territories are appointed wherein a panel of officers is furnished to the ECI. The state government had stated that the officer was clear from the vigilance angle and added that as per records he (Baldev Singh) had been rated as ‘outstanding’ in his performance appraisal reports of the last five years of his service prior to his appointment as CEO Maharashtra. The ECI further states that after having considered the matter, does not find any reason for taking any action.

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Sachin Sawant in a letter to the ECI on July 31 had raised serious charges against questioning his appointment as CEO Maharashtra before the 2019 Assembly elections arguing that an inquiry had been pending against him. Whereas, former Congress Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan in his July 24 letter to the poll body had raised serious questions over hiring of an advertising agency (Signpost) ‘owned by CEO Maharashtra’ for creating public awareness during the 2019 Lok Sabha and later on the Assembly elections. Chavan had raised contentions that the agency so chosen was linked to a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office bearer.

The ECI in its July 30 reply to Chavan pointed out that the Director General of Information and Public Relations (DGIPR) under the General Administration Department (GAD). The department short-lists all agencies for advertisements and the government departments engage them. The office of CEO Maharashtra had requested DGIPR to engage a suitable agency for its SVEEP campaign for social media ahead of the 2019 polls.

After expiry of the duration of two years the state government had issued a new list of empaneled agencies on March 16, 2020, which includes Signpost. The ECI ruled out any independent check of the empaneled agency by DGIPR as there was no specific complaint during the 2019 Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections after that. The poll body rubbished the contention that it had hired the agency, stating that the agency was hired by DGIPR in accordance with the laid down norms and procedures.

In regards to the allegations of sharing of voters data with the agency, the ECI stated that it has laid down stringent protocol ensuring privacy of elector’s data. The instant engagement of the agency by the office of CEO was solely for the purpose of voters awareness campaign, stated the ECI reply.