Bhubaneswar, Jan. 10: The Election Commission (EC) of India has decided to set up a think tank comprising officials who performed exceptionally well during the previous elections to help improve electoral practices in the country.

This was decided during a brainstorming session of electoral officers of the east zone states — Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and Bengal. The zonal symposium on “sharing best electoral practices” was part of the EC’s diamond jubilee celebrations.

Inaugurating the symposium, chief election commissioner S.Y. Quraishi stressed the need to disseminate information on best electoral practices to other states in an effective and organised manner. Election commissioners V.S. Sampath and Harishankar Brahma, director general of the EC, Akshay Rout, chief electoral officers and 24 senior officials from the five states, including district collectors and district superintendents of police, attended the symposium.

It was decided that all documents relating to best and innovative practices adopted successfully in the state elections would be documented and shared with other states.

“All the officers who have successfully implemented innovative practices will be considered as resourceful persons and will be asked to visit other parts of the country to disseminate their knowledge on improving electoral practices. They will act as part of the think tank. Five officials from Orissa have been selected for the purpose,” said Rout.

“One has to remember how the officials conducted the elections in Maoist-hit areas in difficult terrains in Chhattishgarh. The officials made strenuous efforts and followed some innovative ways to conduct the elections,” he said.

How the voting percentage in the last Bihar Assembly polls jumped from 45 per cent to 54 per cent was also discussed.

“It became possible because of various measures taken by the Commission. It is also true that the voters are becoming aware of their rights,” said an official.