Over 79,000 MCC Violations Reported On C-Vigil App Since LS Polls Announcement, 99% Cases Resolved: ECI

The Election Commission's C-Vigil app has received over 79,000 complaints of poll code violations during the Lok Sabha elections, with over 99% resolved, mostly within 100 minutes, according to the poll body.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Friday that its C-Vigil mobile application has emerged as a powerful tool for reporting violations of the poll code, with over 79,000 complaints received since the announcement of the Lok Sabha election. The ECI revealed that more than 99 per cent of these complaints have been resolved, with close to 89 per cent of them resolved within 100 minutes.

According to the poll panel, over 58,500 complaints, accounting for 73 per cent of the total, were filed against illegal hoardings and banners. Additionally, more than 1,400 complaints were related to the distribution of money, gifts, and liquor. Approximately 3 per cent of the complaints, totaling 2,454, pertained to the defacement of property.

Out of the 535 complaints received concerning the display of firearms and intimidation, 529 have already been resolved, indicating a swift response by the authorities. Moreover, 1,000 complaints were lodged for campaigning beyond the prohibited period, including the unauthorized use of speakers, and the majority of these complaints have been addressed.

ECI On C-Vigil App Success And Reporting Process

The C-Vigil app, developed by the Election Commission of India, facilitates quick reporting of election code violations by connecting vigilant citizens with the District Control Room, Returning Officer, and Flying Squads Teams. With its user-friendly interface, citizens can report incidents of political misconduct within minutes, receiving a unique ID to track the progress of their complaint.

"A trinity of factors working simultaneously makes cVIGIL a success. Users capture  audios, photos or videos in real-time, and a “100-minute” countdown for time-bound
 response to complaints is ensured. The app automatically enables a geo-tagging feature as soon as the user switches on their camera in the cVIGIL to report a violation," the ECI stated in a release.

"This means that flying squads could know the precise location of a reported violation, and the image captured by citizens could be used as evidence in the court of law. Citizens can also report complaints anonymously," it added.

The ECI highlighted that during the press conference to announce the Lok Sabha poll schedule, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar had urged citizens to remain vigilant and use the C-Vigil app to report any violations of the Model Code of Conduct or the distribution of inducements to voters. The seven-phase polls were announced on March 16, with voting scheduled between April 19 and June 1.