EC App Allowed to Report Poll-Related Violations; Rajasthan, Karnataka Had Maximum Complaints

With nearly 78,000 complaints received during the 11 assembly elections held in the last one year, the cVIGIL app has empowered the common man to raise issues over violations of the model code of conduct and get the solution in just 100 minutes.

News18 accessed data for the polls held in the last few months in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, Telangana, Karnataka, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.

Out of the 78,000 complaints, more than half – 48,300 — were from the five states that went for polls in November, which were Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, and Telangana. These 48,300 complaints were received between October 9 and November 30.

In terms of the nature of complaints, the highest share – over 21,500 – were related to putting up posters and banners without permission. At least 1,105 were related to hate speech with a 100% disposal rate and 972 resolved in 100 minutes.

Among the 11 states, the highest 21,152 complaints were raised from Rajasthan and of these 21,150 were disposed of on time.

Next was Karnataka with about 18,750 complaints, followed by Madhya Pradesh (11,356) and Telangana (10,132).

Sources said even as the app was launched in July 2018, it is getting popular now with the numbers increasing after every election.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar had been stressing the use of this app by the citizens since long to report violations and become a critical stakeholder in ensuring free and fair polls.

Suvidha App for Parties & Candidates

While cVigil is for the common man for easing the process for political parties and candidates, the ECI is offering the Suvidha app.

In the last 11 elections, as many as 1.85 lakh requests were received on the app with about 90% approval rate.

Telangana topped the chart with about 42,500 requests, followed by Madhya Pradesh (29,700) and Karnataka (27,893).

The highest approval rate was in Gujarat (95.9%) followed by Madhya Pradesh (93.8%), Tripura (93.5%), Mizoram (89.7%), Karnataka (89.6%), Nagaland (89.1%), Chhattisgarh (88.2%), Himachal Pradesh (87.4%), Telangana (82.9%) and Rajasthan (78.3%).

Launched in 2019, the app was for a level-playing field for the candidates and the parties in the electoral fray.

“With the app, the ECI uses technology to streamline the electoral processes for candidates and political parties. It serves as a single window clearance mechanism for different types of facilities including permission for ground, rallies, vehicles, and online nomination filing by candidates,” sources said.

The platform ensures a level-playing field by following the principle of first in first out, which means those who applied permissions first, their applications will be processed on priority for allotting permissions.

“The success of these apps, both cVIGIL and Sividha, during the last few assembly polls will help us in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. More and more people using the app will ensure a vigilant environment during the elections,” they said.