People's Democracy

Non-Congress Opposition Meets Election Commission

LEADERS of several non-Congress opposition parties met the Election Commission on February 3 and requested that dates for the general elections should in no way clash with the schedules of all-India and state board examinations. In fact, elections should in no way be allowed to hamper the career of crores of students, they submitted.

They further pointed out that in states like UP the voters list was slated to be ready on March 23 and that also should be borne in mind.

Briefing some reporters after nearly an hour long meeting at the Election Commission, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury said the delegation comprised former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, CPI(M) general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet, CPI general  secretary AB Bardhan, Laloo Prasad Yadav (RJD), D Raja and Prem Gupta, among others, besides Yechury himself.

The delegation specifically drew attention of the commission officials to the schedule of CBSE examinations, which would be completed only by April 4. In Uttar Pradesh, these examinations would, however, finish on April 16, Yechury said.

Further, the revised voters’ lists in Uttar Pradesh are slated to be brought out on March 23.

“The Election Commission should take all these dates into account before announcing the poll dates,” the delegation urged.

They made it clear to presspersons that it was not for political parties to suggest time frames. “That is not for the political parties to decide. It is the prerogative of the Election Commission,” they said.

About the meeting, Yechury said the delegation drew the commission’s attention to certain problems which can come in the way of holding the elections at a specified point of time, and also touched on the model code of conduct and how it was sought to be violated through a variety of announcements. (INN)