EC declines to defer Himachal elections
The Election Commission on Wednesday turned down the Congress’ plea for postponement of assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh.
By TNN |
NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Wednesday turned down the Congress’ plea for postponement of assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh, but said it was amenable to advancing the second phase by a fortnight to accomodate the school examinations.
“The election will take place in the hill state as per the schedule already announced,” chief election commissioner N Gopalaswami told reporters in Shimla when asked about EC’s view on the Congress’ request for holding the assembly poll in February rather than November-December.
The EC had last week announced a two-phase poll to the Himachal assembly, with November 14 and December 19 as the two poll dates. When it was pointed out that the Congress had objected to December polls on the ground that heavy snow at the time would adversely affect voter turnout, the CEC — flanked by election commissioners Navin Chawla and S Y Qureshi — said the EC had carefully considered all factors, including weather, before deciding the dates.
However, he added that the EC was “open” to the request of Himachal Pradesh School Examination Board chairmain B R Rahi for advancing the poll in view of the Board’s decision to hold examinations from December 4 to December 20.
“The EC is open to the request of advancing the poll in the interest of the students if the board expresses its inability to hold the examination in accordance to the poll dates already announced,” he said. Mr Gopalaswami said the EC had asked the Board to adjust the examination schedule, slotted between December 4 and December 20, to the election dates announced.
“But in case of some difficulties, they should write to us in 2-3 days after which the Commission will discuss on advancing the poll by 15 days,” the CEC said adding that the second phase could be rescheduled in the interest of the students.
In that case, the second phase of the poll at present scheduled on December 19 will be advanced by 15 days and the Board would be asked to start its exams a little after that, he said.
The Congress had wanted the EC to postpone the poll, particularly the second phase, and fix it sometime in February-end or first week of March on the plea on heavy winter and snowfall at that time and school exams coinciding with poll.
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, along with CWC member and party in-charge for Himachal R K Dhawan had submitted a petition to the EC in this connection in Delhi seeking postponement of the polls. Speaker G R Mussafir had also suggested postponement of the dates citing “constitutional crisis”. However, opposition BJP, BSP, CPI, CPM and NCP were not in favour of shifting the poll schedule.
Asked why the state was not consulted before the poll dates were announced, Mr Gopalaswami tersely replied that “we take views from the states but do not consult them on announcement of poll dates.”
The CEC also dismissed the argument that election dates announced by EC would lead to a “constitutional crisis” as the term of the present assembly will expire on March 3 and in that case there would be two assemblies.
“The election will take place in the hill state as per the schedule already announced,” chief election commissioner N Gopalaswami told reporters in Shimla when asked about EC’s view on the Congress’ request for holding the assembly poll in February rather than November-December.
The EC had last week announced a two-phase poll to the Himachal assembly, with November 14 and December 19 as the two poll dates. When it was pointed out that the Congress had objected to December polls on the ground that heavy snow at the time would adversely affect voter turnout, the CEC — flanked by election commissioners Navin Chawla and S Y Qureshi — said the EC had carefully considered all factors, including weather, before deciding the dates.
However, he added that the EC was “open” to the request of Himachal Pradesh School Examination Board chairmain B R Rahi for advancing the poll in view of the Board’s decision to hold examinations from December 4 to December 20.
“The EC is open to the request of advancing the poll in the interest of the students if the board expresses its inability to hold the examination in accordance to the poll dates already announced,” he said. Mr Gopalaswami said the EC had asked the Board to adjust the examination schedule, slotted between December 4 and December 20, to the election dates announced.
“But in case of some difficulties, they should write to us in 2-3 days after which the Commission will discuss on advancing the poll by 15 days,” the CEC said adding that the second phase could be rescheduled in the interest of the students.
ADVERTISEMENT
In that case, the second phase of the poll at present scheduled on December 19 will be advanced by 15 days and the Board would be asked to start its exams a little after that, he said.
The Congress had wanted the EC to postpone the poll, particularly the second phase, and fix it sometime in February-end or first week of March on the plea on heavy winter and snowfall at that time and school exams coinciding with poll.
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, along with CWC member and party in-charge for Himachal R K Dhawan had submitted a petition to the EC in this connection in Delhi seeking postponement of the polls. Speaker G R Mussafir had also suggested postponement of the dates citing “constitutional crisis”. However, opposition BJP, BSP, CPI, CPM and NCP were not in favour of shifting the poll schedule.
Asked why the state was not consulted before the poll dates were announced, Mr Gopalaswami tersely replied that “we take views from the states but do not consult them on announcement of poll dates.”
ADVERTISEMENT
The CEC also dismissed the argument that election dates announced by EC would lead to a “constitutional crisis” as the term of the present assembly will expire on March 3 and in that case there would be two assemblies.
Download
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
Download
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
ADVERTISEMENT
