Expressing concern over the long time gap between the day of voting and counting in Himachal Pradesh polls, veteran BJP leader L K Advani on Monday urged the Election Commission to look into the matter.
“In Gujarat, electors and candidates won’t have to wait for too long a period as the results would be out after two days. But my concern is for the voters and candidates in Himachal Pradesh,” Mr. Advani, the Lok Sabha MP from Gandhinagar, told mediapersons here after casting his vote.
“They have been waiting for a long period. I don’t think that electoral results in one state would affect voting patterns or result in another state. This is one area I urge the Election Commission of India (ECI) should look into,” Mr. Advani said.
He further said, “I had a discussion with the Prime Minister regarding holding Lok Sabha and Assembly elections simultaneously in all states. What is happening in the last few years is that every year, some state goes to polls.”
“But, this is not what the founding fathers of the Constitution of India had envisaged as they wanted elections to be held after every five years,” he said,
However, Mr Advani said he was confident that the saffron party would come to power with a clear majority.
Assembly elections were held in Himachal Pradesh on November 4 while Gujarat voted on December 13 and the second phase of polling is underway today.
Counting of votes in both the states is slated for December 20.
Keywords: Himachal Pradesh polls, Advani concern, Election Commission
Seshan onwards, the Election Commission has emerged as most visible
face of democracy based on supposedly free election.It has indeed
achieved less loud elections,elimination of defacement of private
houses and public places and booth capturing.Its military like
deployment of forces as if a war for survival or territorial integrity
is to be protected,becoming a dominant force in administration for
weeks together once supposedly model code of conduct comes into
force,staggering election to seven days stretching well beyond a month
bringing Govt.machinery to a halt, underhand money deals increase many
many fold for buying votes and now not declaring result of election of
one State because election in another State is held two months after
are all indicator of bad health of our democracy for which it conducts
elections.If elections are end in itself,we may laud the Election
commission.But there is nothing to be proud of failing democracy
despite elections presided by the august body.
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