By-poll for 5 Lok Sabha seats due, EC undecided, BJP unsure
The Election Commission of India (ECI) continues to be in a dilemma over holding a by-poll for five Lok Sabha seats in four states due to a variety of reasons. These seats are Ghazipur (UP), Pune and Chandrapur (Maharashtra), Wayanad (Kerala) and Ambala (Haryana).
The Wayand seat fell vacant in March this year after Rahul Gandhi was disqualified by the Surat Court and he failed to get a stay on his disqualification. The Ghazipur seat also fell vacant after Afzal Ansari (BSP) was disqualified in May following his conviction by a court. The demise of two BJP Mps; Girish Bapat (Pune) in March and Rattan Lal Kataria (Ambala) in May and lone Congress MP from Chandrapur (Maharashtra), Suresh Dhanorkar also necessitated by-polls.
With the Parliamentary polls just 11 months away, there is a view that no useful purpose will be served by holding a by-poll for now. Secondly, Section 151-A of the Representation of People Act, a by-poll for filling a vacancy to the Lok Sabha shall be held within a period of six months from the date of the occurrence of the vacancy, if the remainder of the term of the MP is not less than a year. The EC, however, can sidestep the statutory requirement if the commission, in consultation with the Central government, certifies that it is difficult to hold the by-poll within the stipulated period. The EC's prolonged wait not to hold by-poll for the Wayanad seat is extremely baffling as Rahul Gandhi didn't get a relief from the court.
There is speculation that the by-polls may be held along with the Assembly polls in five states due in November-December. But BJP leaders in Maharashtra and Kerala are not enthusiastic to hold by-polls.
