Page 41 - Election Commission

Ajit Pawar elected NCP president on June 30: Group to Election Commission

Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar-led NCP has informed the Election Commission that he has been elected national president of the party. A statement issued on Wednesday on behalf of the Ajit Pawar-led faction said the Election Commission has been informed through an affidavit that he was elected NCP chief through a resolution dated June 30, 2023 signed by an "overwhelming majority" of members of NCP, both from the legislative and organisational wing. Praful Patel continues to be NCP working president, the release said. The NCP has also decided to appoint Ajit Pawar as the leader of NCP Legislative Party in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and this decision was also ratified by the resolution passed by an overwhelming majority of NCP MLAs, the statement said. An attempt is being made by certain elements within the NCP to spread a sense of fear and confusion amongst the elected representatives of the NCP and also the party cadre working in different organisational ...

NCP factional war reaches EC, Ajit Pawar files over 40 affidavits

The factional fight of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has reached the doorstep of the Election Commission with the group led by Ajit Pawar filing over 40 affidavits of MLAs and MPs in his support. The Sharad Pawar camp has filed a caveat with the poll authority urging it to hear them first before passing any directive in connection with the factional fight, Election Commission sources said. The Election Commission is likely to process applications in the coming days and ask both the sides to exchange the respective documents submitted before it. The NCP, founded by Sharad Pawar in 1999, witnessed a split on Sunday with Ajit Pawar, claiming support of over 40 MLAs and joining the Shiv Sena-BJP coalition government in Maharashtra. Nine NCP MLAs, including Ajit Pawar, were sworn-in as ministers in the Maharashtra government at a surprise cabinet expansion on Sunday. Ajit Pawar, with senior party leaders Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil by his side, asserted to b

485 more companies of central force sanctioned for WB rural polls: SEC

The West Bengal State Election Commission on Monday informed the Calcutta High Court that the Union Home Ministry has sanctioned the balance 485 companies of central force for the panchayat elections, taking the total to 822 companies. The SEC counsel submitted that 4,834 booths for the rural polls have been identified as sensitive, which is 7.8 per cent of the total 61,636 booths. The commission informed a division bench presided by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam that it received intimation on Monday that the ministry has sanctioned 485 companies, in addition to the 337 approved earlier. The 822 companies of central force are higher than what was deployed during the 2013 panchayat elections, which was considered as the benchmark by the court for deciding their requisition for the July 8 polls. The high court had on June 21 directed the SEC to requisition more than 82,000 central forces' personnel for deployment in panchayat elections. During the hearing of contempt petitions agains

EC launches portal for parties to file financial statements, contributions

The Election Commission on Monday came up with an online portal to allow registered political parties file their financial statements, including contribution reports and poll expenditure accounts, a move seen as an effort to bring in more transparency in disclosures made by political entities. The move is part of the poll panel's "3C strategy" comprising clean up, crackdown and compliance to strengthen transparency and accountability in the political funding and expenditure on which it had been working for a year now under Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, sources said. Political parties not intending to file the financial report through online mode will have to convey the reasons for not doing so in writing and may continue to file reports in hard copy format along with CDs or pen drive in the prescribed formats. "The Commission will, in turn, publish all such reports online, along with a letter of justification sent by the party for not filing financial statements online,"

Suitable action to be taken on Ajit Pawar's disqualification plea: Speaker

Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Monday said he will take appropriate action on the NCP's plea seeking disqualification of Ajit Pawar and other eight party MLAs, who have taken oath as ministers in the Eknath Shinde-led government. State NCP president Jayant Patil on Sunday said his party has moved the disqualification petition against Ajit Pawar and eight others. He said an e-mail has also been sent to the Election Commission of India informing that the rank and file of the NCP is with party chief Sharad Pawar. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Narwekar said, I have received the petition filed by Jayant Patil seeking disqualification of the nine NCP MLAs. I will read it carefully. I will study the points mentioned and take appropriate action on the petition. Asked how many NCP MLAs have supported Ajit Pawar, Narvekar said, I have no information about it. The Speaker also said it is his prerogative to decide on the appointment of a new opposition leader in the ...

Poll preparedness: Deputy election commissioner team to visit MP next week

A team of deputy election commissioners will visit Madhya Pradesh next week to take stock of the preparedness for the assembly polls slated for October-November, sources said on Friday. They said the team is likely to be in Bhopal for two days beginning Monday. Election Commission officials had earlier visited four other states going to polls later this year -- Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Rajasthan -- to review the preparations. Polls in the five states are likely to be held together in October-November this year. While the term of the Mizoram legislative assembly ends in December this year, the terms of the legislative assemblies of Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Madhya Pradesh end on different dates in January 2024. Before the "full Commission" comprising the chief election commissioner and election commissioners visit a poll-bound state to interact with stakeholders, including representatives of political parties, deputy ECs tour the state to take stock of the

EC discusses Telangana Assembly poll preparations, assures logistic support

An Election Commission (EC) team held meeting with Telangana Chief Secretary here on Saturday as part of the preparations for the Legislative Assembly polls to be held later this year. Telangana Chief Secretary A Santhi Kumari met with the EC officials and assured them of all logistical support required to conduct the elections smoothly, a release from the office of state Chief Electoral Officer said today. The three-day visit of the senior EC officials, led by Dharmendra Sharma and Nitesh Kumar Vyas, senior Deputy Election Commissioners (DECs) concluded today. During the visit, the EC team met with state bureaucrats, senior officials of enforcement agencies, including Income Tax (CBDT), excise department, State GST, CGST, Enforcement Directorate, State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC), DRI, CISF, and the state Commercial Tax department with a view to curtail use of money power in the elections, the release said. Further, the EC team convened a crucial meeting with district Collector

MHA offers to deploy 337 companies of central forces for WB panchayat polls

The State Election Commission (SEC) made a requisition for 822 companies for the upcoming WB panchayat polls to be held on July 8

Calcutta HC directs EC to deploy more Central forces than in 2013

The court observed that there are more districts now compared to 2013, and it is going to be a single-phased election while in 2013 there were five phases of elections

WB guv returns SEC's joining report to state govt ahead of panchayat polls

West Bengal Governor Dr CV Ananda Bose on Wednesday night returned the joining report of State Election Commissioner (SEC) Rajiva Sinha ahead of the July 8 panchayat polls, a well-placed source at the Raj Bhavan said. The step came days after Sinha failed to appear before the Governor after he was summoned on an urgent basis for an explanation of the incidents of murders, violence and clashes during nomination filing for the panchayat poll earlier this month. The governor tonight returned the joining report of SEC Rajiva Sinha. The SEC failed to appear before the Governor even when he wanted him to come to Raj Bhavan over the incidents of murders, violence and clashes, the source told PTI. Sinha, who was called by the Governor on June 17 at Raj Bhavan, did not appear stating that he was preoccupied with scrutiny of the nominations for the ensuing panchayat polls. The former state chief secretary had requested Bose to exempt him from appearing before him during the day and give an .

Rural polls: Governor summons Bengal poll panel chief; SEC seeks fresh date

Hours after West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose summoned State Election Commissioner (SEC) Rajiva Sinha to Raj Bhawan, the senior officer said he will not be able to meet him due to his preoccupations with panchayat polls, an official said. Sinha requested Bose to exempt him from appearing during the day and give him an appointment any other day, he said. "Sinha is not skipping. He sought exemption for today. He has requested the Governor to give him time any other day," the official told PTI. Bose had summoned Sinha to Raj Bhavan at 2pm on Saturday to update him about the violence that claimed four lives in the state and steps taken by the state government to contain the situation. After visiting Bhangore on Friday, the Governor said measures must be taken end political violence and assured that "perpetrators would be permanently silenced" and brought to book. After talking to local residents and senior police officers there, Bose said violence would not be tolerated. More than

EC issues directions for officials' transfer in states where polls are due

As it gears up to hold Assembly polls in five states in the next few months, the Election Commission (EC) has directed the chief secretaries of Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana to transfer the officials directly connected with elections who are posted in their home districts and those who have spent three of the last four years in one district. In a letter written on June 2 and addressed to the chief secretaries of the five states, the poll panel has reminded them that while the term of the Mizoram Assembly ends on December 17, the terms of the Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana assemblies end on different dates in January next year. The commission said it has been following a "consistent policy" that officers directly connected with the conduct of elections in a poll-bound state or Union Territory are not posted in their home districts or places where they have served for a considerably long period. "Hence, the commission has decided

EC to hold bypoll in Wayanad LS seat earlier held by Rahul Gandhi

The Election Commission has initiated the process to hold a bypoll in the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat which Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had held until he was disqualified following his conviction in a criminal defamation case over his "Modi surname" remark. A court in Gujarat had sentenced Gandhi to two years in jail, following which the Lok Sabha Speaker disqualified him from the lower house. A communication sent to recognised political parties by Kozhikode deputy collector on June 5 in his capacity as district election officer said that a mock poll after verification of the Electronic Voting Machines and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) systems will be held on June 7 ahead of the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency bypoll. The parties were informed that the mock poll and verification of the EVMs and VVPAT system will be held at the Kozhikode Civil Station Aswasakendram Godown. The Election Commission's move comes at a time when Gandhi's criminal revision application against the

EC should tell people why no elections in Jammu and Kashmir: Omar Abdullah

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said the Election Commission should muster courage to tell people why assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir are not being held. "Is there a pressure on them (EC) not to hold elections? Let the Election Commission show some courage and say that they are under pressure. There is something fishy," Abdullah told reporters outside the party headquarters here. Abdullah, a former chief minister, said the Election Commission should be asked when it plans to hold elections in Jammu and Kashmir. "The media seems to be more concerned about the elections than us. Election is our right but we are not going down on our knees for it. If they want to snatch the right of people of Jammu and Kashmir, if they get some pleasure out of it, let them do it. We also have some self-respect and dignity, he said. He said the Chief Election Commissioner, during his last visit to the Union territory, admitted that there was a vacuum in Jammu and Kashmir. "

Election Commission reviews preparedness for assembly elections in Mizoram

With Mizoram slated to go to polls later this year, the Election Commission (EC) held a meeting with officials in Aizawl on Friday to review the preparedness, a statement said. Various heads and nodal officers of central agencies were present at the meeting, which was chaired by Deputy Election Commissioner Dharmendra Sharma. In the meeting, Sharma emphasised the EC mandate for ensuring free and fair elections, the statement said. He pointed out that checking money and muscle power in the election will be the responsibility of central agencies working in the state. Sharma asked the agencies to work in a co-ordinated manner and maintain vigil at all times. He also directed them to take any perception of threat very seriously and to ensure a level playing field for all. The agencies apprised the EC of their present state of preparedness for the election, the statement said. They informed the EC that they are strictly following the rules and standard operating procedure (SOP) as pe

EC's allotment of Shiv Sena name to Shinde faction a prospective decision

Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Tuesday said the Election Commission's decision to allot the 'Shiv Sena' name and its symbol to the faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is a "prospective" decision and not restropective. Speaking to reporters here after a meeting with some officials in the Vidhan Bhavan, Narwekar also said the decision on disqualification of 16 MLAs including CM Shinde will start from the point of which faction was representing the actual Shiv Sena in July 2022. The Speaker on Monday also said that after the Supreme Court's May 11 verdict, he will have to first recognise in the House which faction of the Shiv Sena is the political party before going ahead with any other decision. In its verdict on the Shiv Sena-centric tussle that led to the fall of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra last year, the Supreme Court said it can't reinstate the then chief minister Uddhav Thackeray as he chose to resign without facing th

Karnataka records 73.19% voter turnout in Assembly elections, says EC

Karnataka registered a voter turnout of 73.19 per cent in the Assembly polls which election officials on Thursday termed a record, while sharing the final figures. Voting took place on Wednesday to elect representatives to the 224-member House. "Karnataka has created a new record for itself. Final voter turnout for Karnataka Election 2023 stands at 73.19 per cent," said the Chief Electoral Office, Karnataka. While Chikkaballapura district recorded the highest voter turnout of 85.56 per cent, followed by Bengaluru Rural at 85.08 per cent; the lowest was in Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) South limits (parts of Bengaluru city) at 52.33 per cent, the official data showed. "Largely peaceful voting in all 224 Assembly constituencies in Karnataka, and no repoll indicated in any of the 58,545 polling stations," the Election Commission (EC) said on Wednesday night. Karnataka recorded 72.44 per cent voter turnout in the 2018 Assembly polls which had thrown up a hung assembly with

EC rejects charge that EVMs used in K'taka were deployed in South Africa

The Election Commission (EC) rejected the Congress's claim on Thursday that the electronic voting machines used in the May 10 Karnataka Assembly polls were previously deployed in South Africa and asked the party to "publicly expose" the sources that spread such false information. In a letter addressed to Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala, the EC said it had used new EVMs manufactured by Electronics Corporation of India Limited for the polls in the southern state. In a letter written to the poll panel on May 8, the Congress had raised concerns and sought clarifications regarding the "re-use" in the Karnataka election of EVMs previously used in South Africa and that too, without going through the process of revalidation and re-verification The poll panel asserted that neither EVMs were sent to South Africa nor does that country use those machines. Citing records, it said the Congress had specific knowledge that only newly ECIL-produced EVMs would be used in Karnataka. The EC s

Social media appeal to voters outside polling area not under law: EC

With the Congress accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of violating the law by issuing appeals to Karnataka voters through social media during the "silence period", sources in the Election Commission on Tuesday said such appeals made outside the polling area do not come under the ambit of the existing law. The law, as exists, prohibits the act "in any polling area" only, they said. They also said the parties alleging violation of Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act through the use of social media have themselves put up a number of such posts even on their official social media handles. Section 126 specifically does not cover the use of social media or intermediaries during the silence period. It also does not cover violations outside the poll area, the sources said. Section 126 of the Act restricts the public display of election matter in the polling area during the "silence period" thereby limiting its application only to the display of election matter in the poll

EC notice on 'rate card' ads: Cong seeks time to submit detailed response

The Congress has accused the Election Commission of "bias" over its notice on the party's "corruption rate card" advertisements targeting the BJP government in Karnataka and said its leaders are held to a standard that seems reserved only for the Opposition. Despite the Congress bringing to the EC's notice on numerous occasions the "brazen and repeated" violations of electoral guidelines by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders, the commission has not issued one notice or condemnation, the Congress said on Sunday. In the Congress' "preliminary response", party leader and lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi also said the 24-hour window provided by the EC for responding to the notice was insufficient with the Karnataka assembly poll campaign drawing to a close. The EC had on Saturday issued a notice to the Karnataka Congress over its "corruption rate card" advertisements published in newspapers in the run-up to the May 10 state polls and sought "empirical evidence" to prove its