Polls sans army guard won't be fair: CEC

Chief Election Commissioner MA Syed yesterday stood his ground on army deployment for the upcoming Union Parishad elections, saying fair polls were not possible without presence of troops.

"It is not only an Election Commission decision but has now become a public demand (to deploy army)," he told a group of journalists at the Election Commission Secretariat.

The candidates, election observers, media and people in general want army deployment, he added. "People want a peaceful atmosphere during the polls."

Syed's comments look set to heighten the tussle between the EC and the government over army deployment.

The government decided on Monday to provide all logistic support to the EC, except deployment of troops, for the UP polls.

The government cited high cost of deployment and improvement of law and order over the last couple of months since the Operation Clean Heart began on October 17 as the major reasons behind its reluctance to entertain the EC request.

Still, the CEC and his colleagues in the commission are hopeful that the government would change its mind, keeping mind its constitutional obligation.

"It shall be the duty of all executive authorities to assist the Election Commission in the discharge of its functions," reads the constitution.

An EC law and order review meeting early last week decided for the first time to deploy army for the UP polls that begin on January 25 and run through March 26.

The decision sparked off resentment in the government ranks. A government spokesperson has already questioned the EC authority to take any decision on army deployment.

Meantime, the EC has finalised budget for the UP polls and sought approval from the finance ministry. Out of a total Tk 58 crore, the commission sought Tk 31 crore for maintenance of law and order.