In a significant development, the Bombay High Court on Wednesday ordered issuing of notices to the Election Commission of India (EC), Maharashtra State Election Commission (M-SEC) and two public sector makers of electronic voting machines (EVM) and others in a public interest litigation filed by an RTI activist. The directions[Read More…]
Tag: EC
Truth has won, says Kejriwal
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday welcomed the Delhi High Court verdict that set aside the EC recommendation disqualifying 20 AAP MLAs in an office-of-profit case, saying truth has won. “Truth has been victorious. The elected representatives of Delhi were disqualified wrongly. The High Court has provided[Read More…]
Election Commission has become Modi’s ‘puppet’: Congress
The Congress on Thursday made a strong attack on the Election Commission, accusing it of becoming a “puppet” in the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who it said was breaking rules in a last bid to save the BJP’s “sinking ship” in Gujarat. Charging the poll panel with not[Read More…]
BJP threatening journalists in Gujarat, Congress tells EC
The Congress on Wednesday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was threatening journalists in Gujarat for airing Congress President-elect Rahul Gandhi’s interview, and urged the Election Commission (EC) to take notice of it. Congress Spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said here that some journalists were receiving threats from high-level state[Read More…]
Chidambaram lashes out at EC for not announcing Gujarat assembly election dates
Former finance minister and senior Congress leader, P. Chidambaram, has questioned the Election Commission’s (EC) decision of not announcing the dates for Gujarat elections. He took to Twitter where he wrote, “EC will be recalled from its extended holiday after Gujarat Govt. has announced all concessions and freebies.” EC will[Read More…]
Political consensus must to conduct simultaneous election: EC
The Election Commision will have to get the nod from recognised national and regional parties to pull off simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. “The Election Commission in its earlier responses to the government has underlined the need for political consensus. All parties have to be on[Read More…]
RS poll results: Will move court against EC’s decision, says Gujarat CM
The Gujarat chief minister, Vijay Rupani has expressed disapproval over the Election Commission’s decision of disqualifying two rebels Congress MLAs over cross-voting on Wednesday. He said that in the coming days, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will move the court for justice. “Don’t agree with EC’s decision. In coming days[Read More…]
Our EVMs are better than ones used abroad: EC tells SC
The Election Commission on Friday told the Supreme Court that its EVMs are fully tamper-proof and credible machines, which cannot be hacked. Submitting its affidavit, EC director (Law), Vijay Kumar Pandey said that all PILs claiming that EVMs are faulty machines must be dismissed as there is no evidence of[Read More…]
SC to set up norms for fair selection of CECs and ECs
The Supreme Court on Wednesday, agreed to accord final hearing on Public Interest Litigation(PIL), after alleging that political executives have been appointing Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners in poll panel till now. The apex court stated that it is important to set norms for the appointment so that the[Read More…]
EC defers Rajya Sabha polls in view of Presidential poll and EVM hackathon
Even though the political parties declared the candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls for 10 seats in West Bengal, Gujarat, and Goa, the Election Commission has postponed the polls. The election was supposed to take place June 9. No new dates were declared now. Out of 10 seats, six[Read More…]
Our machines far more secure than voting machines used abroad: EC
On Saturday, the Election Commission (EC) held a demonstrator of voting machines to prove that they cannot be tampered with. This comes in the backdrop of the all-party meeting which was held last Friday with the EC to debate the upcoming ‘EVM hackathon’ after allegations that the voting machines were[Read More…]
EC cancels Anantnag Lok Sabha bypoll citing unfavorable ground situation
In a latest development, the Election Commission has cancelled the Anantnag Lok Sabha bypoll, saying that the ground situation is not favorable to hold free and fair elections in the valley state. Earlier, the bypoll was slated to be held on April 12. However, it was postponed for May 25[Read More…]
Disqualify MPs and MLAs chargesheeted for poll bribes: Election Commission
In a significant move, the Election Commission (EC) has anticipated disqualification of sitting MPs and MLAs chargesheeted for the crime of bribery or excessive influence in polls under Sections 171B and 171C of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). EC learnt to have sent a letter to the secretary, ministry of[Read More…]
Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency: Repolling begins in 38 polling stations
The repoll instructed by Election Commission of India in 38 polling stations of Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency began on Thursday morning amidst tight security arrangements. The bypoll on April 9 was marred by violence that killed around 8 people and injured many. The polling that began at 7 am in[Read More…]
Repoll in 38 polling stations of Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency on April 13
The Election Commission ordered repoll in 38 polling stations of the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency that saw significant violence during the April 10 by-election. In a letter to the state Chief Electoral Officer, the EC said it is ordering repoll based on the reports of the officers and observers. The[Read More…]
EC defers Anantnag bypoll to May 25 after Srinagar violence
After much speculations, the Election Commission finally postponed the Anantnag Lok Sabha bypoll to May 25 following a violent public protests spoiled voting in the Srinagar by-elections, leaving eight people dead and hundreds injured. The Jammu and Kashmir administration maintained that the law and order situation is not favorable to[Read More…]
PDP sought to postpone Anantnag polls after Srinagar violence
After repeated violence in Srinagar during the by-poll for Lok Sabha seat on Sunday Jammu and Kashmir’s ruling party asked the Election Commission on Monday to postpone the bypoll in Anantnag until April 12. Although the security was tightened in Srinagar as separatists called for a boycott of the by-election[Read More…]
VVPAT machines at every polling booth by 2019 general elections: EC
The Election Commission (EC) has announced that it is gearing up to make the voting system watertight by introducing voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) by the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The EC also dismisses speculation over the reliability of electronic voting machines (EVMs), saying the technology is dependable. “The[Read More…]
Former sarpanch found dead in J&K
Delhi EC rejects plea to remove party symbols from EVM
The Delhi state election commission has dismissed a plea which demands the removal of candidates’ party symbols from electronic voting machines (EVM) in upcoming civic polls. The Poll panel told a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal, “(Any order on) the petition would directly affect[Read More…]
Dainik Jagran exit poll case: Police detained online editor Shekhar Tripathi
The Uttar Pradesh Police detained Dainik Jagran online editor Shekhar Tripathi late on Monday night for publishing an exit poll after the first phase of Uttar Pradesh assembly elections in favor of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Notably, the model code of conduct ban declaration of exit polls before the conclusion[Read More…]
EC to Cabinet Secretary: No last-minute demands to clear proposals
Displeased with ministries bypassing the Cabinet Secretary while seeking model code approval for Cabinet proposals, the Election Commission (EC) on Thursday said it would not entertain last-minute appeals for approval. EC also clarified that the Cabinet proposals were being sent at the last minute to build pressure for approval.[Read More…]
RBI rejects EC’s proposal to hoist cash withdrawl limits
The Reserve Bank of India has rejected the Election Commission’s proposal to increase the weekly withdrawal limit for those contesting the Assembly elections. There will be no change in the withdrawal limit till March 11, when the poll results would be declared. Currently, ATM withdrawal limit stands at Rs 10,000 a[Read More…]
EC reserves order on SP’s cycle fight; will pass interim order on Jan 17
After hearing long arguments between Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav and son Akhilesh Yadav, the Election Commission (EC) reserved its order on the Party’s symbol ‘bicycle’ on Friday. Although both the party claims that there is unity among them, Mulayam Singh Yadav said he was in no mood to[Read More…]
EC seeks Centre’s reply on opposition’s demand to postpone budget
After opposition’s continuous demand to postpone the Budget session till the poll gets over, the Election Commission has sought a response from the government. Reportedly, the commission has written a letter to cabinet secretary Pradeep Kumar Sinha seeking response to the appeal by January 10. The Commission wants to know[Read More…]