GUWAHATI: In just 20 days since the announcement of elections and the operationalisation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), the Suvidha platform has received 73,379 permission requests from political parties and candidates, including 2,609 from Assam. Among these requests, 44,626, accounting for 60% of the total, have been approved.
According to available data until April 7, 2024, nearly 11,200 requests have been rejected, constituting 15% of the total received, while 10,819 applications were cancelled due to invalidity or duplication. The remaining applications are currently under processing.
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Tamil Nadu emerged as the state with the highest number of requests, totaling 23,239, followed by West Bengal with 11,976 and Madhya Pradesh with 10,636. Conversely, Chandigarh, Lakshadweep, and Manipur recorded the lowest number of requests, with 17, 18, and 20 respectively.
The Suvidha portal, developed by the Election Commission of India (ECI), aims to ensure a level playing field by upholding democratic principles of free, fair, and transparent elections. Acting as a technological solution, the portal has streamlined the process of obtaining and responding to permission requests and facilities from political entities during the election period.
Catering to a diverse range of permissions transparently on the First In First Out principle, the Suvidha Portal facilitates requests for organising rallies, opening temporary party offices, door-to-door canvassing, video vans, helicopters, obtaining vehicle permits, and distributing pamphlets.
Accessible through the Suvidha portal website, political parties and candidates can submit permission requests online, with offline submission options available for inclusivity and equal opportunity. Managed by nodal officers across various state departments, the platform ensures efficient processing of requests.
Furthermore, the Suvidha platform offers a companion app enabling real-time tracking of application status. The platform's real-time tracking, time stamped submissions, and communication via SMS contribute to greater accountability and integrity in the electoral process.