The Election Commission on Saturday announced Assembly polls in Haryana and Maharashtra, the first state elections since the BJP’s spectacular return to power at the Centre this summer, while making it clear that the debate on a simultaneous countrywide vote had not been settled yet.
Without a clear consensus, one-nation one-poll cannot be taken as a “given template”, chief election commissioner Sunil Arora said.
According to the announcement, Haryana and Maharashtra, both ruled by the BJP, will vote on October 21, with the counting on October 24.
The poll panel also announced Assembly by-elections in 64 seats across 17 states and one Union Territory, Puducherry.
The terms of the Haryana and Maharashtra Houses expire on November 2 and November 9 and the election process for these two Assemblies is scheduled to be completed by October 27.
By-elections are also due in Bengal and Uttarakhand but the dates have not been announced.
The Pujas are just days away in Bengal and panchayat elections are taking place in Uttarakhand.
The terms of the Assemblies of two other states expire early next year — January 5 in Jharkhand and February 22 in Delhi. The ruling AAP in Delhi had been speculating that the elections would be advanced but there was no such announcement.
Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar presents a turban to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Rohtak. (PTI)
Asked why elections to the Jharkhand Assembly had not been announced, Arora said the debate on simultaneous elections was yet to be settled.
“If the leaders of the Houses (of Jharkhand and Delhi) get a resolution passed to have early elections… but why should the EC want to prepone it,” the chief election commissioner said.
“The debate you raised of simultaneous elections in the country is there but it has not been settled at all. It is something that is being debated. Unless there is a very clear consensus among political parties on this issue, it cannot be taken already as a given template.”
Two former Indian Revenue Service officers, B. Murli Kumar, and Madhu Mahajan, instrumental in seizing Rs 11 crore in unaccounted cash from a DMK sympathiser in Vellore that led to the Lok Sabha election there being rescinded, have been appointed special expenditure observers for Maharashtra.
Seizures worth over Rs 167 crore were made in Maharashtra during the Lok Sabha polls, including more than Rs 53 crore in cash.
Asked about the clean chits given to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah for a series of controversial speeches, several days after complaints had been lodged, Arora said that “99 per cent of complaints were resolved within 48 hours”.
On violations of the model election code on social media, Arora clarified that besides the voluntary code of ethics introduced during the parliamentary elections, the commission was not contemplating any restrictions.
“Overall, our view towards the media, and I have been secretary I&B (information and broadcasting), is that for the media legislative framework doesn’t help too much. In any case there are substantive laws of the IPC (penal code)…. If we find any media, for that matter, crossing the Lakshman rekha, we will do what we are mandated to do,” Arora said. Three national parties — the CPI, NCP and Trinamul — served notices in July as to why their status shouldn’t be revoked will be able to use their symbols for these elections.
The commission had heard these parties on September 9 and is yet to conclude hearings.
The three parties will retain their national status and the use of their symbols in the interim.
