ECI Defers Rajya Sabha Polls to 18 seats in View of COVID-19

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : The Election Commission of India (ECI) on March 24, 2020, deferred the biennial polls to 18 seats of Rajya Sabha from  Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, and Rajasthan , scheduled for March 26, 2020, and extended the period of said election under the provisions of section 153 of the  Representation of the People Act, 1951, in view of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The list of contesting candidates, already published for the said elections by the respective Returning Officers, shall remain valid for the purposes of remaining activities, as prescribed under the said notification. Fresh date of poll and counting for the said biennial elections shall be announced in due course after reviewing the prevailing situation.

The ECI had on February 25, 2020, announced elections to the Council of States to fill 55 seats of Members from 17 States retiring in the month of April,2020, which were notified on March 6, 2020. After the last date of withdrawal on March 18, 2020, respective Returning Officers declared 37 seats from 10 States filled in uncontested.

Now, as per the reports received from the concerned Returning Officers, the biennial elections to 18 seats from the States of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya and Rajasthan were to be conducted  on March 26, 2020, and the date before which election was to be completed as earlier announced by the Commission was March 30, 2020.

On March 11, 2020, World Health Organization declared novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) a  pandemic. Ministry of Health & Family Affairs and Department of Personnel & Training, Government of India have issued various guidelines and instructions to monitor and contain the transmission of COVID-19. Government of India, on March 22, 2020, asked all the State Governments to take all measures to break the chain of transmission of COVID-19. This includes suspension of all train services till March 31, 2020, including sub-urban rail services; closure of all activities except essential services such as hospitals, telecom, medicine shops, provision stores etc.

Subsequently, on March 23, 2020, it was announced that the domestic schedule commercial airlines shall cease operations  effective from the mid-night 23.59 IST hours on March 24, 2020. State Governments have issued various orders including curb on local transportation accordingly for management and containment of COVID-19. The States of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya and Rajasthan have issued orders of lockdown to contain the transmission of COVID-19, according to a PIB release.

The ECI has reviewed in detail the matter. The prevailing unforeseen situation of public health emergency indicates the need for avoidance of possibilities of gatherings of any nature, which expose all concerned to possible health hazard. The poll process would necessarily include the gathering of polling officials, agents of political parties, support officials and members of respective Legislative Assemblies on the poll day, which may not be suitable in view of the prevailing unforeseen situation and related advisories in the country, it said.

Section 153 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 specifies that the Election Commission for reasons which it considers sufficient, may extend the time for the completion of any election by making necessary amendments in the notification issued by it under section 30 or sub-section (1) of section 39. of the Act.