CPI(M) General Secretary Sitraram Yechury on Monday urged the Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora to consult political parties before taking decisions on change in election procedures. Expressing displeasure on not consulting political parties for allowing postal ballots to covid-19 quarantined persons, Yechury pointed out that the attitude of non-consulting political parties by Election Commission is totally an unhealthy practice.
“We are greatly disturbed by the media reports that the Election Commission of India (ECI) bypassing the established practice of consulting political parties, is unilaterally initiating measures to provide voters aged over sixty four years, the use of postal ballots. We are given to understand that in response to the request from the ECI, the Law Ministry had earlier amended the Conduct of the Election Rules to allow people with disabilities and those who are 80 years of age or above to opt for postal ballot during the general elections to Parliament and State Assemblies. Subsequently the ECI had approached the Government to further amend the rule in the light of the Covid 19 pandemic.
It is further reported that on June 19, the Law Ministry has notified fresh change to allow those aged 65 years and above the option of postal ballots. The amended rules also allow “Covid-19 suspect or affected persons” same option of postal ballots,” said Yechury.
