The Election Commission (EC) on Monday deferred Rajya Sabha elections to 10 seats in Goa, Gujarat and West Bengal that were scheduled for June 8. The EC has already deferred several elections, including that to the Anantnag lok Sabha constituency. The move comes ahead of the Presidential elections next month and the electronic voting machines (EVMs) hackathon planned from June 3.
The EC has also written to Chief Electoral Officers of five States where elections were concluded recently on the EVM hackathon planned next month.
In a concise statement on Monday, the poll panel said it has “decided to withdraw Press Note No ECI/PN/40/2017 dated May 16, 2017.” It added that it would “announce programme for holding biennial election to council of States from Goa, Gujarat and West Bengal in due course.”
Officials said that the conduct of the Presidential elections may coincide with the schedule of aforesaid Biennial Elections as announced and in view of the fact the Secretaries of legislative Assemblies are notified as Returning Officer for Biennial elections to council of States and they are also to be appointed as Assistant Returning Officers for Presidential Elections 2017.
“Besides the commission has invited the recognised political parties to prove before it the allegations made on tamperability of VVPAT EVM from June 3 and this will divert attention of some of the parties who may like to participate in the challenge,” said officials.