The 2009 EWK Report
Trivandrum, 13 April 2009
Election Watch Kerala released its report on the 2009 Lok Sabha Elections today, at a function held
at the Press Club, Trivandrum. Please read the Press Release here and the
full report here.
Your feedback will be appreciated. Please mail it to: info@electionwatchkerala.org
The EWK Team
ELECTION WATCH KERALA (EWK) is a state-wide, non-political and
non-partisan civil society initiative. To enable voters to make an
informed choice, EWK aims to disseminate unbiased and objective
information on the candidates contesting from Kerala for the
forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, as well provide information on the
electoral process. The first EWK was successfully carried out during
the 2004 General Elections in Kerala.
EWK is part of National Election Watch, a nation-wide civil society
initiative inspired by the work of organizations like the Association
for Democratic Reform (ADR), and Lok Satta whose efforts resulted in
the Supreme Court verdict requiring candidates to reveal their
financial status and criminal antecedents. This has resulted in a
certain restraint on political parties from fielding 'tainted'
candidates. In Kerala, EWK is working closely with other civil society
groups such as the Centre for Policy Research (CPPR).
Candidates for the forthcoming election will be filing affidavits
from 23 Mar 2009, regarding their personal details including their
financial status, dues owed to the Government, and criminal cases (if
any), pending against them.
EWK will:
- Collate this information, analyse and disseminate it as widely
as possible to enable voters to make an informed choice in selection
of suitable candidates.
- Disseminate information and analysis through printed reports,
press releases, its website and through its Information Centre.
- Monitor and report on the election expenses of the political
parties participating in the elections as reported to the Electoral
Officers
- Provide information to the public about the election process,
rights of voters and advice on how to register complaints about
malpractices through its Information Centre.
It is in our individual, corporate and public interest to support
efforts to ensure a free and fair elections as this will result in
providing political, economic and social stability. EWK seeks the
cooperation of all the political parties, civil society organizations
and members of the public in this democratic endeavour.
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