A person having armed security cover will not be able to become a polling, election or counting agent in the elections. Central as well as state ministers, members of Parliament and MLAs having such security cover will also come under the purview of this decision taken by the Election Commission.

In this connection provisions of Representation of People Act 1951 and Arms Act 1959 have been cited. According to the provisions, no person with any weapon will be allowed to even go near the polling booth other than the returning officers, presiding officers, police officers and other officials who will be responsible to maintaining law and order there. It has been construed that armed persons at or near the polling booths can intimidate and influence voters, polling staff and other people. They might also indulge in violence. Thus, the misuse or unfortunate use of firearms can pose law and order problems. This will be in contravention to the efforts of ensuring free, fair and peaceful elections.

Some candidates appoint ministers, MPs and MLAs as their election, polling or counting agents. Many of these public representatives have armed security cover. In the last election also, many public representatives had applied to the returning officers saying that they were ready to abandon their security cover for becoming polling agents. The Election Commission has asked the returning officers not to give permission to them as they cannot be allowed to endanger their security deliberately.

All the concerning officials have been given intimation of this decision with the instructions to implement it.