Bhubaneswar: A day after Election Commission (EC) defended itself against allegations that it was delaying issuance of notification for Bijapur Assembly by-poll, advisor to EC Bhagban Prakash Thursday said that the election for the seat will be held on time and as per rules.
Prakash said that there wouldn’t be any injustice and the Election Commission will announce the dates as per the rules which mandate by-election to an Assembly segment within six months from the date its vacancy.
Prior to announcement of the by-election date, sources said, the EC will look into the law and order situation in the region and ask state government to ensure no examination is scheduled during the by-poll.
The alleged delay in Bijepur by-poll has already sparked a fight among rival political parties in the state with BJD and Congress accusing BJP of pressurising the EC to defer the election process. However, commenting on the issue, Orissa Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) DN Gupta Wednesday said that while the six-month period is normally counted from the date of vacancy, if there is any election petition pending in court, the period starts from the date of finalisation of the case by the court. In the latter case, by-poll should be held within six months of the closure of the case.
The Bijepur by-poll has been necessitated following the death of three-time Congress MLA Subal Sahu August 22, 2017 and the Orissa High Court gave its final verdict on a petition, filed by the BJD leader Prasanna Acharya challenging the election of late Sahu October 16, 2017. Orissa CEO further said that VVPATs and EVMs have already been procured for the Bijepur by-poll and he is waiting for the direction of ECI to conduct the election.
PNN