- Due to this delay, the Election Commission has not announced the polling dates for Gujarat
NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, GANDHINAGAR, OCT 22
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is likely to announce the schedule for the assembly election in Gujarat after Diwali.
CEC Shri Rajiv Kumar while delivering his key note address as Chairperson AWEB recalled contributions of Father of our Nation Mahatma Gandhi ji & great leader Mr. Nelson Mandela at the opening ceremony of 5th General Assembly of AWEB, an association of 120 EMBs, at Capetown, SA. pic.twitter.com/sDCgqrRQ5F
— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) October 19, 2022
As per the sources, till now, the posting of officers like District Magistrate (DM), Superintendent of Police (SP) and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), who are associated with the elections, has not been completed. Due to this delay, the Election Commission has not announced the polling dates.
IEC assumed the chairmanship of A-WEB.
The recently designated chairperson of the Commission symbolically received the A-WEB flag from the Chief @ECISVEEP. India is the outgoing chairperson of A-WEB. This symbolic gesture signifies the change of guard in the leadership of A-WEB. pic.twitter.com/T2VUfjjVGE— IEC South Africa (@IECSouthAfrica) October 19, 2022
In a strong letter to the Chief Secretary of the Government of Gujarat and the Director General of Police (DGP) on Friday (October 21), the commission rapped the authorities for non-submission of the report on the order of proper transfer of administrative officers in view of the election preparations. The report was to be submitted by September 30.
Even though the commission had sent a reminder letter on October 19, the government did not send a reply. The poll body asked in the letter, “Why has the report not been filed till now?”
Now they have been asked to explain the circumstances as to why the compliance reports have not been furnished “so far even after the lapse of stipulated time limit despite issuing of the reminder in the matter,” a source said quoting the letter.
EC Shri Anup Chandra Pandey delivered his address on behalf of Asian Association of Electoral Authorities. On the sidelines of the conference, he also held a bilateral meeting with Election Commissioner from Bangladesh on further strengthening of mutual cooperation. pic.twitter.com/d34uiRYfow
— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) October 20, 2022
The letters regarding transfer and posting of officials were sent to Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat.
While Himachal Pradesh will go to polls on November 12, dates are yet to be announced for Gujarat election.
The commission had directed the two state governments to transfer officials posted in their home districts and those who have spent three years in a district in the last four years.
It is usual for the poll panel to issue such directions ahead of Lok Sabha and assembly polls to ensure free and fair elections.
The term of the Gujarat Assembly ends on February 18, 2023. Gujarat exercised its franchise in two phases- December 9 and 14 and has 182 assembly seats. In the last elections, the BJP, which has been in power in the state for almost three decades, bagged 99 seats and Congress emerged victorious on 77 seats.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is trying to get a foothold in Gujarat and is gearing up to challenge the BJP and Congress. With the rise of regional parties like AAP and AIMIM, the BJP is likely to face a tough challenge this year coupled with anti-incumbency.
