ECI’s Suvidha Platform Receives 73,379 applications for Permissions from political candidates

New Delhi: In the swift flurry of election activities since the initiation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), the Election Commission of India’s Suvidha platform has emerged as a pivotal tool, receiving a remarkable 73,379 permission requests from political parties and candidates within just 20 days. Among these, 44,626 requests, accounting for 60% of the total, have been approved, while nearly 11,200 requests were rejected, and 10,819 applications were deemed invalid or duplicate. The remaining requests are under active processing as of April 7, 2024.

Tamil Nadu led the pack with the highest number of requests at 23,239, trailed by West Bengal with 11,976 and Madhya Pradesh with 10,636. In contrast, Chandigarh (17), Lakshadweep (18), and Manipur (20) recorded the lowest number of requests.

The Suvidha portal, an innovation by the ECI, stands as a beacon of transparency and efficiency in the electoral process. It streamlines the acquisition and actioning of requests for permissions and facilities from political entities during election periods, ensuring a level playing field and upholding democratic principles of fairness and transparency.

Designed to accommodate a spectrum of permission requests transparently, the Suvidha Portal operates on a ‘First in First Out’ principle, facilitating permissions for various campaign activities including rallies, temporary party offices, door-to-door canvassing, video vans, helicopters, vehicle permits, and pamphlet distribution.

Accessible through the Suvidha Portal website, political parties and candidates can effortlessly submit permission requests online, with offline submission options available for inclusivity. Supported by a robust IT infrastructure, the platform enables efficient processing of requests, managed by nodal officers across state departments. The Suvidha app further enhances accessibility, allowing real-time tracking of application statuses on IoS and Android platforms.

Beyond streamlining processes, the Suvidha Platform fosters transparency by offering real-time tracking, timestamped submissions, and SMS communication, contributing to greater accountability in election expenditure scrutiny.