Election Commission begins groundwork for polls in 5 States

As the Election Commission will have hectic work next year as it has to hold elections in five States and the polls for the post of the President and the Vice-President, the spade work has already begun in the Nirvachan Sadan, the EC headquarters here.

A top EC official said the Commission, consisting of Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi and Election Commissioners V.S. Sampath and Hari Shankar Brahma, would be in Lucknow on July 20 and would review the poll preparedness for elections to the 403-member Uttar Pradesh Assembly, whose term ends on May 20, 2012. As per law, the EC could decide on holding poll on any day during the last six months of the Assembly's term. “Normally we begin the poll preparation exercise one year before the actual expiry of the Assembly's term,” he said.

Other States

Similarly the EC also plans to review preparedness for Assembly polls in Uttarakhand (Assembly term expires on March 12), Punjab (March 14), Manipur (March 15) and Goa (June 14, 2012). It plans to visit Dehradun on August 2 and 3. On August 5 and 6, the Commission will visit Imphal and Panaji on August 16 and 17.

The strength of Punjab Legislative Assembly is 117, Uttarakhand 70, Manipur 60 and Goa 40.

As Uttarakhand Assembly's term will expire first next year, the Commission is planning to speed up the process.

During the meetings, among other things, the Commission will review works relating to the distribution of the elector photo identity card (EPIC), update of photo electoral rolls, corrections in the EPIC, rationalisation of the polling stations, jobs to be done relating to the summary revision of electoral rolls and positioning of the returning officers/ assistant returning officers. Meetings will be held with the officials, including the Chief Secretary, the DGP, and others involved in poll-related work. The Commission will also hold meetings with the representatives of the recognised political parties during the visit.

While Dr. Quraishi, who will hold office till June 10, 2012, will oversee polls in the five States, the next CEC V.S. Sampath, will have another major task of holding the polls for the post of the President and the Vice-President as the term of incumbent expires on July 25, 2012, and August 11, 2012, respectively.

the hindu

'PM should be elected directly'

Lucknow, Jan 30 (IANS) Direct elections should be held for the prime minister's post, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said Sunday.

Speaking at the regional seminar on electoral reforms sponsored jointly by the Election Commission of India and the union law ministry, Nishank said: 'I am firmly of the view that unless one enjoys the confidence of the people of the country, he should not have the privilege to become the nation's prime minister.'

'That is possible only if the people have the right to directly elect their prime minister.'

Nishank urged the Election Commission to devise some measure that may give an instant confirmation on the electronic voting machine (EVM) that the cast vote was successfully added to the candidate for whom it was intended.

He demanded strong preventive and penal measures to debar the candidates contesting and campaigning during criminal detentions, and demanded enforcing minimum educational qualification as one of the eligibility norms.

Nishank also stressed the need for making voting compulsory

Bridge collapses; traffic disrupted on Uttarakhand – Delhi route

A bridge over Ganga canal in the district collapsed, disrupting traffic on Uttarakhand — Delhi route that also affected movement of vehicles towards Haridwar for the Mahakumbh, officials said today.

They said the main link on Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi was cut off after a bridge collapsed over Ganga canal near Jolly village last night.

Fearing a breach in the canal following the incident, the district authorities have alerted the people of neighbouring villages.

The traffic on canal road has been closed, they said, adding that the vehicular movement towards Haridwar for the Mahakumbh has also been disrupted.

“We are taking all measures after keeping an eye on the situation. No loss of life was reported. Engineers are working,” Superintending Engineer of Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department K. P. Singh said.

PTI