Page 17 - Election Commission

Haryana polls: Congress demands thorough probe into 'discrepancies' in EVMs

The Congress on Wednesday demanded a thorough probe into "discrepancies" found in some Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) during the counting of votes of the Haryana assembly polls and demanded that such EVMs should be sealed and secured pending the inquiry. A delegation of top Congress leaders comprising former chief ministers Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Ashok Gehlot and AICC leaders K C Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh, Ajay Maken and Pawan Khera, besides Haryana Congress chief Udai Bhan, met with top Election Commission officials. The delegation handed over a memorandum to the officials along with specific complaints from various constituencies in Haryana. Senior party leader Abhishek Singhvi joined the meeting online. The Congress leaders alleged that there are at least 20 such complaints, including seven in writing, from as many assembly constituencies, with many referring to EVMs functioning at 99 per cent battery capacity whereas the average EVMs were found to be operating at 60 to 70 p

Maha poll review: EC warns of action over voter inconvenience complaints

The Election Commission on Friday expressed "dissatisfaction" over inconvenience to voters at polling stations in Mumbai city during Lok Sabha polls, and top officials were told to ensure better facilities in the forthcoming assembly polls, sources said. At a review meeting with the state chief secretary and director general of police here, officials were told to ensure all assured minimum facilities at polling stations, including benches, fans, drinking water and shed. The Commission said it will act strictly on any complaints of voter inconvenience on poll day. Officials were told to ensure proper queue management at polling stations, the sources said. There have been reports of inconvenience to reporters during parliamentary elections and the EC flagged the issue during its review meeting for the upcoming assembly polls. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar also expressed "displeasure" over low seizures during LS elections and conveyed zero tolerance towards distribution of a

J&K elections: 'History in making' as people vote, says CEC Rajiv Kumar

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar on Wednesday described the ongoing Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir as "history in the making", saying people are standing in long queues outside polling booths at places where calls were once given to boycott the democratic exercise. Taking to reporters here as the second phase of polling was underway on 26 seats in the Union Territory, Kumar said 100 per cent CCTV coverage is available for this phase and one could see youngsters, women and senior citizens patiently standing in queues, awaiting their turn to exercise their franchise. "It is a festival of democracy. Voting is taking place in areas where it did not take place earlier.... There were calls for disruption and boycott in the past.... It is a standing ovation for democracy," the CEC said in the presence of fellow election commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu. Kumar said history is in the making in Jammu and Kashmir and its impact will be felt for a long time

178K PVTGs in J'khand electoral roll, focus on inclusive polls: Official

Jharkhand, which is gearing up for elections to the 81-member assembly, has 100 per cent enrolment of voters belonging to particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) in the electoral roll, a top EC official. Altogether 2.59 crore electors are registered in the state where the tenure of the assembly is due to expire on January 5, 2025. "There is 100 per cent enrolment of 1.78 lakh voters belonging to eight PVTGs in the electoral roll. With a focus on inclusive and participative elections, all officials were directed to enhance participation of PVTGs and tribal groups in the elections," Jharkhand Chief Electoral Officer K Ravi Kumar said. The second Special Summary Revision (SSR) in the state, with respect to July 1, 2024 as the qualifying date, has been completed and the electoral roll was published on August 27, he said, adding that copies of the same were provided to political parties. As of September 20, a total of 2.59 crore electors are registered in the state with about 1.28

ECI delegation meets govt officials to review poll preparedness in J'khand

The state is likely to witness elections to the 81-member Jharkhand legislative assembly on or before December 2024 as the tenure of the current government is set to end in January 2025

Jammu-Kashmir polls: PM Modi to address rallies in Srinagar & Katra today

Jammu-Kashmir Assembly elections: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rallies are critical for the BJP to strengthen its foothold in the region and engage voters ahead of the decisive polls

Haryana, J-K elections highlights: Kharge, Sonia among 40 star campaigners for Congress in Haryana

J-K, Haryana Assembly polls updates: Catch all the latest news developments related to the Assembly polls here

24 polling stations set for Kashmiri migrants in Jammu, Udhampur, and Delhi

The Election Commission (EC) has set up 24 special polling stations in Jammu, Udhampur and New Delhi to facilitate voting by Kashmiri migrants in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, a senior official said. People who were displaced from the Kashmir Valley and are residing in Jammu and Udhampur will not have to fill Form-M, as was done in the Lok Sabha elections, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Jammu and Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole said in a statement issued on Friday. "Kashmiri migrant voters residing in various relief camps in Jammu, Udhampur, and Delhi, who have opted to cast their votes in person through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the election, can do so at 24 polling stations -- 19 in Jammu, 1 in Udhampur and 4 in Delhi," he said. "Continuing with the historic decision taken by the ECI during the Lok Sabha elections, the earlier requirement for migrant electors in Jammu and Udhampur to fill out Form-M has been removed," he said. Electors residing in zones

Election Commission issues notification for first phase of polls in J&K

The Election Commission on Tuesday issued notification for the first phase of the three-phased assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir in which 24 segments will go to polls on September 18. With the issuance of the notification, the nomination process for the candidates has started. The last date for making nominations for the first phase is August 27, while the scrutiny of the nominations will take place on August 28. The last date for the withdrawal of candidature is August 30 and the date of poll, if necessitated, is September 18. In the first phase, 16 assembly segments in the valley that are in south Kashmir and eight in Jammu region will go to polls. The seats are Pampore, Tral, Pulwama, Rajpora, Zainapora, Shopian, D H Pora, Kulgam, Devsar, Dooru, Kokernag (ST), Anantnag West, Anantnag, Srigufwara-Bijbehara, Shangus-Anantnag East, and Pahalgam in the Kashmir valley. Inderwal, Kishtwar, Padder-Nagseni, Bhadarwah, Doda, Doda West, Ramban, and Banihal will go to polls in Jammu re

J&K set for 3-phase polls, Haryana votes on Oct 1; counting on Oct 4

Polling in J&K for its 90 seats will take place across three phases-on September 18, 25, and October 1-while Haryana's 90 seats will poll on October 1

When will bypolls be held in landslide-hit Wayanad? Election body answers

Wayanad bypolls: Major landslides struck the hilly area of Wayanad on July 29, destroying some hundreds of homes and cutting off at least four villages from the rest of the region

Haryana Assembly elections 2024: Voting on Oct 1, counting Oct 4

The Election Commission of India announced key dates for state Assembly polls in Haryana. Check details here

J-K Assembly elections 2024: Voting from Sept 18-Oct 1; check details here

Jammu & Kashmir Assembly Elections 2024: Counting of votes will be on October 4, says Election Commission of India

LG govt has shaken up administration: NC asks EC to suspend transfer

The National Conference on Friday called on the Election Commission of India (ECI) to thoroughly investigate the massive transfers in the police and civil administration, and demanded immediate suspension of the implementation of such orders. National Conference general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar said the move seems "clearly intended to undermine" the integrity of the electoral process, which restricts such transfers to prevent the ruling party from gaining an undue administrative advantage over the opposition. "Why has a massive reshuffle been ordered in the police and administration since last evening, and today morning, seemingly to pre-empt the Election Commission's announcement? It appears to have been orchestrated by a BJP-appointed LG to benefit his party and its allies," Sagar said in a statement. "The LG government has strategically shaken up the entire administrative set up compromising the principles of free and fair elections," he added. The National Conference called

Election Commission to release poll schedule for key states at 3 pm

The terms of legislative assemblies in Haryana and Maharashtra will expire on Nov 3 and Nov 26, respectively. J&K elections are expected to be held before Sept 30, as ordered by the Supreme Court

Ensure level playing field during Assembly polls: EC to Haryana officials

The Election Commission has directed district election officers and superintendents of police in Haryana to act with complete impartiality and ensure a level playing field for free and fair assembly elections. Underscoring its focus on an inducement-free poll process, the commission directed the enforcement agencies to work in a coordinated manner to curb the inflow of illicit liquor, cash and drugs. The directions were issued by an Election Commission (EC) team led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar. The team is on a two-day visit of Haryana to review poll preparedness for assembly elections, likely to be held later this year. The term of the 90-member Haryana Assembly is due to expire on November 3. The EC team, also comprising election commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, arrived in Chandigarh on Monday. During the visit, the team met representatives of national and state parties such as AAP, BJP, CPI(M), Congress, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and th

Committed to conducting elections in J&K at earliest: CEC Rajiv Kumar

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Friday said that the EC was committed to conducting polls in Jammu and Kashmir at the earliest and would not allow any internal or external forces derail the electoral process. Addressing a press conference here, Kumar said all parties in Jammu and Kashmir are "batting strongly" for holding assembly elections. "We are committed to conducting polls in Jammu and Kashmir at the earliest and we will not let any internal or external forces derail the election," Kumar said. "All political parties in Jammu and Kashmir are batting strongly for holding assembly elections as soon as possible," he added. An Election Commission delegation led by Kumar is in Jammu and Kashmir on a three-day visit to review the preparedness of the administration as well as the security agencies for the conduct of the polls. On the second day of their visit on Friday, the EC delegation that also includes Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and S S Sandhu, held discussi

J-K poll: EC team holds consultations with chief secretary, police chief

The Election Commission on Friday held consultations with the Jammu and Kashmir chief secretary and the union territory's police chief to review the preparedness for assembly polls, officials said. On the second day of their visit, the EC delegation comprising Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and S S Sandhu held discussions with J-K chief secretary Atal Dullo and J-K Police DGP R R Swain, the officials said. The ECI reviewed the preparedness of the administration as well as the security agencies for the conduct of the polls. The ECI team sought feedback from the DGP on the readiness and preparation of the forces for the polls, the officials said. The issues of deployment of forces, providing security cover to candidates, and security during campaigning were deliberated upon, the officials added. After the meeting, the ECI team left for Jammu where it will hold a review meeting with enforcement agencies. It will also hold a pres

Elections to 12 vacant Rajya Sabha seats from 9 states on September 3: EC

Elections to 12 vacant Rajya Sabha seats in nine states will be held on September 3, the Election Commission said on Wednesday. Ten Rajya Sabha seats fell vacant as the sitting members, including Union ministers Piyush Goyal, Sarbananda Sonowal and Jyotiraditya Scindia, were elected to the Lok Sabha. Bypolls are also being held for two seats in Telangana and Odisha. K Keshava Rao from Telangana resigned recently from the House after quitting the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) to join the Congress while Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Mamata Mohanta resigned from her Rajya Sabha seat and primary membership of the party. Besides Goyal, Sonowal and Scindia, the other Rajya Sabha members who won the parliamentary polls and moved to the Lok Sabha are Kamakhya Prasad Tasa (BJP), Misha Bharti (RJD), Vivek Thakur (BJP), Deepender Singh Hooda (Congress), Udayanraje Bhosle (BJP), K C Venugopal (Congress) and Biplab Kumar Deb (BJP). The notification for the Rajya Sabha elections will be issued on Aug

Assembly elections in J&K to be held in Sept: Union minister G Kishan Reddy

A new J&K has emerged where terrorism, stone-pelting, hoisting of Pakistani flags, and an insult to the Tricolour are history, said the minister in Jammu rally