An all-party meeting for smooth conduct of the ensuing three-tier panchayat elections held for a second time on Monday left opposition parties Congress and BJP unhappy as their demand for holding voting, counting and declaring results on a single day was not assured of by the State Election Commission (SEC).
Sources said State Election Commissioner RN Senapati turned down the opposition parties’ request stating that there was no such proposal from the State Government side and law also doesn’t permit to do so.
Notably, Senapati had convened the meeting for the second time as the first one held on December 21 had remained inconclusive due to absence of any representatives from the BJP.
According to information, a 10-member BJP team led by party’s general secretary Prithviraj Harichandan, a Congress team led by vice-president Sibanand Ray and a BJD team led by VP Surjya Narayan Patro attended the meeting.
The Election Commissioner sought suggestions and cooperation from the political parties for smooth conduct of the elections to be held in 6,804 gram pancayats some time in February.
While leaders of Congress and BJP suggested to the SEC to hold the whole activities of voting, counting and result announcement on a single day for bringing fairness and checking untoward incidents, the BJD proposed that ban on liquor sale extended from one day to seven days for an incident-free election.
Unhappy over the SEC’s contention, Harichandan later told reporters that a BJP team would meet Governor Dr SC Jamir and place a memorandum in this regard.
It may be noted that the Panchayati Raj Department has already issued a gazette notification for holding the panchayat elections.
As the all-party meeting is over now, the State Election Commission may issue notification in two-three days and enforce election code of conduct ahead of polls.