Shimla, Sep 4
Election Commission of India has decided to defer the assembly poll in three assembly and one Parliamentary constituency after consultation with the respective state Chief Secretary.
Citing reasons like flood situations, festivals and pandemic the Bye polls to the 3 Vidhan sabha and 1 Lok Sabha seat in Himachal Pradesh have been postponed for the moment. In a media communiqué issued by election commission of India, they stated that the Chief Secretaries of States of states of Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Adviser of UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, brought to the notice of the Commission the constraints related to and therefore they have suggested that it would be advisable to have bye-elections after the end of festival season.
A notification issued by the Secretary of Election Commission of India Sanjeev Kumar Prasad said baring two assemblies of west Bengal and one of Odisha polling for other 31 assembly and four parliamentary vacancies to be held after the festival season. Prasad said that this decision was taken after the holding a meeting with respective states and union territories chief secretaries on on Sep 1, 2021.
Among other reasons, the ECI also said that most states states, various research institutions, technical expert committees and professionals have predicted the possibility of third wave of Covid-19 October onward.
Whereas talking about WB and Odisha Bye elections , the ECI stated that CS of Odisha has informed that the situation of Covid -19 is under control and poll could be held. CS of West Bengal said that covid and flood situation in poll bound districts are under control and if election would be held it has not affect on the poll bound assembly constituencies. Besides in case of West bengal, citing under Article 164(4) of the Constitution of India, a Minister who is not a member of the Legislature of the State for a period of six consecutive months shall at the expiration of that period cease to be a Minister and there will be a constitutional crisis and vacuum in the top executive posts in the Government unless elections are held immediately. The CS has informed ECI that in view of administrative exigencies and public interest and to avoid vacuum in the state, bye-elections for 159- Bhabanipur, Kolkata from where Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister intends to contest elections may be conducted,” they added.
Three assemblies seat are vacant in Himachal Pradesh including Fatepure of Kangra, Arki of Solan and Jubbal -Kotkhai of Shimla and one Lok Sabha seat is also vacant in Mandi parliamentary segment .
