Articles by "Election Commission"
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Hello Jammu News at 10:04:00 PM 0


New Delhi, Jun 19 :  The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought a response from the Election Commission by June 24 on a plea of the Gujarat Congress, challenging the poll panel's decision to hold separate bypolls to two Rajya Sabha seats in the state.

A vacation bench of justices Deepak Gupta and Surya Kant listed the matter for hearing on June 25, saying the issue required to be heard.

The bench said, "It is not an issue which can be taken up through an election petition and therefore, requires to be heard." 

Senior advocate Vivek Tankha, appearing for the Gujarat Congress, said there were judgments of the Delhi High court which were in their favour.

To this, the bench said, "We are not saying anything for now. We need to decide whether it is a casual vacancy or a statutory vacancy. This matter requires hearing." 

The Rajya Sabha seats fell vacant following the election of BJP chief Amit Shah and Union minister Smriti Irani to the Lok Sabha from Gandhinagar and Amethi respectively.              [Agencies]
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Hello Jammu News at 1:59:00 PM 0


New Delhi, April 12 :  The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear on April 15 a plea challenging the Election Commission's ban on the release of biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A bench headed by Chief Justice said it will hear the plea filed by producers of the biopic. 

The poll panel had on Wednesday banned the screening of the biopic during poll period, saying any such film that subserves purpose of any political entity or individual should not be displayed in the electronic media. 

The apex court had on Tuesday disposed of the petition filed by a Congress activist seeking stay on the release of the biopic, saying the Election Commission was the right forum to decide the issue.

The top court had left it for the EC to take a call by saying that since the movie was not certified at that time by the Censor Board it could not entertain the petition seeking ban on the film.

Later on Tuesday evening the Censor Board had certified the biopic and the Congress activist on Wednesday succeeded in securing a ban on its release from the Election Commission.        [Agencies]
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Hello Jammu News at 6:46:00 PM 0


Amaravati, Mar 29 :  The Andhra Pradesh High Court Friday refused to stall the Election Commission of India's order, transferring two IPS officers, including the Director General of Intelligence and a non-cadre officer in the state government, and keeping them away from election duties.

The Chandrababu Naidu government was keen on retaining the controversial DG, Intelligence, A B Venkateswara Rao, whom the opposition YSR Congress has been accusing of "working like a TDP cadre".

A division bench, comprising acting Chief Justice Praveen Kumar and Justice Satyanarayana Murthy, ruled that there was 'no case for interim relief' in the matter and said the state government should comply with the EC order.

It rejected the government's contentions on the issue, particularly that the DG had nothing to do with the conduct of elections and that the EC had no jurisdiction over him.

The EC had late on Tuesday night issued an order to Chief Secretary Anil Chandra Punetha, directing that the DG, Intelligence, and Superintendents of Police of Kadapa and Srikakulam districts be transferred forthwith and attached to the state police headquarters.

It said no election-related work should be assigned to the three officers till the completion of the polls. Around midnight on Tuesday, Punetha issued an order transferring the three officers in line with the directive.

The scene, however, changed on Wednesday as the Chief Secretary issued a fresh order that afternoon, cancelling his earlier one and retained the Intelligence DG to the same post while shifting the two SPs.

The EC subsequently appointed Grewal Navdeep Singh and Abhishek Mohanty as SPs of Srikakulam and Kadapa districts.

The chief secretary also got a writ petition filed in the High Court, challenging the ECI order even as Chief Minister Naidu shot off a seven-page letter to the poll panel, protesting the transfers, particularly that of the DG, Intelligence.

Naidu alleged that the election commission's action was 'prima facie hasty, biased, undemocratic and suffers from the principles of natural justice".

He claimed the EC's conduct has become "questionable" due to this "coloured decision", which is deliberately aimed at benefitting the YSR Congress "under the influence of (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi, aided by (Telangana Chief Minister) K Chandrasekhar Rao".

The government issued a separate order on Wednesday, designating certain police officers from the DGP to the rank of a constable for law and order duties in connection with the April 11 elections to the Lok Sabha and state Assembly.

The DG of Intelligence has been kept away from election duties.

"The ECI cannot engage in unchecked, arbitrary and uncanalised exercise of power. The ECI order suffers from the vice of lack of jurisdiction, suffers from being a colourable exercise of power and is based on alien purposes or oblique motives which have nothing to do with the conduct of polling duties," state Political Secretary (General Administration Department) N Srikant said in the petition, filed on behalf of the chief secretary.

The High Court heard arguments in the case on Thursday.

The YSR Congress also impleaded in the case.

Advocate General D Srinivas contented that the ECI has no jurisdiction to transfer an officer not under its purview.

Former AG Prakash Reddy, counsel for the ECI, pointed out that the Intelligence DG was very much on election-related duties under Section 28-A of the Representation of People Act and that the state government issued an order in this regard.

The AG claimed the said government order was issued erroneously.

"How could the police department function without the intelligence wing?" the ECI advocate countered.

The High Court delivered its verdict on the petition on Friday, refusing to grant any relief to the state government.         [Agencies]
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Hello Jammu News at 9:22:00 PM 0


New Delhi, Mar 10 :  Lok Sabha elections will begin on April 11 and polling would be held over seven phases through May 19, followed by counting of all votes on May 23, the Election Commission announced on Sunday.

Assembly polls in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal, Odisha and Sikkim will also be held simultaneously, the Election Commission (EC) said. However, elections for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly, which was dissolved after the ruling coalition between the BJP and the PDP fell apart, will not be held along with the Lok Sabha polls.

Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said the model code of conduct would come into immediate effect from Sunday and 10 lakhs polling stations would be set up this time as against about nine lakhs in 2014. Nearly 90 crore voters would be eligible to vote for 543 Lok Sabha constituencies across the country.

The election will pit the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance against several opposition parties, including the Congress, the Left and regional forces who are continuing to work out a grand alliance to minimise a division of votes against Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led ruling combine.

The BJP has succeeded in working out seat-sharing formula with some new allies and several old partners, by even making concessions to them in states like Bihar. However, opposition parties are yet to arrive at a deal in several states.

While the NDA hopes to make history by coming back to power for a second full term, the Opposition wants to unseat the Modi government by raising questions on its performance on a host of issues, including economic growth, employment, corruption and social harmony.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee had led the NDA to back to back Lok Sabha wins in 1998 and 1999 general elections but he was at the helm of only one full-term government. 

Announcing the schedule for 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the Election Commission said the voter verifiable paper audit trail' (VVPAT) will be used in all polling stations this time.

The first phase will be held on April 11, second on April 18, third on April 23 and fourth on April 29, fifth on May 6, sixth on May 12 and seventh phase on May 19.

Counting of votes for all seven phases covering 543 Lok Sabha constituencies would take place on May 23, Arora said.

In the first phase, 91 constituencies will to go for polls, 97 constituencies in the second phase, 115 constituencies in the third, 71 in fourth phase, 51 in fifth phase, 59 in sixth and 59 in the seventh phase.

With the model code of conduct for elections coming into immediate effect, the government cannot announce any policy move that may impact voters' decision.

Arora said all political advertisements on social media will need pre-certification.

In 2014, when the BJP swept to power, the Lok Sabha elections were held across nine phases beginning April 7 and ending May 9. The counting of votes had taken place on May 16.

The total contestants in fray were 8,251, with an average of 15 candidates in each constituency. However, deposit was forfeited in case of 7,000 contestants.

A total of over 55 crore voters (66.3 per cent) exercised their vote, while there were 9.27 lakh polling stations. There were nearly 60 lakh NOTA' votes.

Out of total 543 elected candidates, only 62 were women from 668 who had contested. 

After suffering losses in assembly polls in three states recently, the BJP believes that its Lok Sabha poll campaign is back on track due to a host of decisions, including 10 per cent quota for the general category poor, money transfer to farmers and presentation of a populist budget. 

What has injected further confidence into the NDA fold is the fronting of the nationalist plank in the poll campaign after the Pulwama terror attack, which killed 40 CRPF personnel, that was followed by the Indian Air Force' strikes on terrorist camps in Pakistan.

The BJP has been citing 2016 surgical strikes on terror launch pads and these air strikes to assert that only a government headed by Modi will be capable of taking on Pakistan over terrorism, as it has sought to corner the Congress on the issue.

Many political pundits feel the prime minister has already launched a full-fledged campaign accusing opposition parties of coming together for the sole purpose of removing him while he is working to "remove poverty, corruption and terrorism".

He had led the NDA to a sweeping victory in 2014 as it won 336 of 543 Lok Sabha seats, reducing the incumbent Congress to its lowest total of 44 seats. The BJP on its own won a majority, a first for the party, by bagging 282 seats.                [Agencies]
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Hello Jammu News at 6:52:00 PM 0


New Delhi, Jan 17 :  The Election Commission on Thursday directed the Delhi chief electoral officer to ask the city police to investigate the "fake news" of Lok Sabha poll schedule being circulated on social media.

The CEO has also been asked to seek action against unnamed persons and entities under relevant laws to prevent rumour mongering, official sources said here.                                           PTI
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Hello Jammu News at 1:51:00 PM 0

Aizawl, Jul 27: The Election Commission of India has accepted the suggestion of the Mizoram government that electoral roll revision for Bru community, lodged in the six relief camps in Tripura, would be conducted only after they return to Mizoram, a senior state official today said.

Principal Secretary of Home Department, Lalnunmawia Chuaungo said that the Election Commission had earlier instructed the state election department to undertake revision of voters' lists in the Bru relief camps which was objected by the state government.

The state government had suggested to the Commission that the revision of electoral rolls should be taken up after the Brus return to Mizoram from Tripura, Chuaungo said.

Civil societies have all along been objecting the conduct of revision of voters' lists and exercise of franchise by Bru displaced people in the relief camps outside the state.

He said that the repatriation of Brus lodged in the six relief camps is scheduled to commence from August 14 and would be completed by September 10 and preparations were in full swing in the three districts where the repatriated Brus were proposed to be resettled.

At least 32,876 Brus belonging to 5,407 families would be resettled in 48 villages in Mamit district, 10 villages in Kolasib district and four villages in Lunglei district.

The state government would go ahead with the road map for Bru repatriation approved by the Centre and following the agreement inked between the centre, Mizoram and Tripura state governments and the Mizoram Bru Displaced People's Forum (MBDPF) apex body of the Bru refugees in the relief camps on July two, even if the inmates are not willing to return to Mizoram, he said.

The Centre had convened a meeting of chief ministers of Mizoram and Tripura on July two in which it was agreed that repatriation of all the 32,876 Brus belonging to 5,407 families lodged in the six relief camps should be completed by September 30.

The Centre would deposit Rs 4 lakh in the bank account of each repatriated family which could be withdrawn after three years and a housing assistance to the tune of Rs 1.5 lakh would be disbursed to each family.

Each family would also be provided with monthly assistance of Rs 5,000 for two years and free ration for the same period.

Thousands of Brus are lodged in the Tripura relief camps since late 1997 in the wake of a communal tension triggered by the brutal murder of Lalzawmliana, a forest guard inside the Dampa Tiger Reserve on October 21, 1997 by Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) militants.

Though some Bru families had already returned to Mizoram during a number of repatriation processes and on their own will, many of them continued to refuse to leave Tripura till date despite many attempts. (PTI)
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Hello Jammu News at 1:22:00 PM 0

Islamabad, Jul 26: The Election Commission of Pakistan tonight rejected the allegations of any wrongdoing in the general election held yesterday after several political parties raised objections over the process and said they feared rigging.

The ECP said the election results were being collected and the first official result will be announced in an hour.

ECP secretary Babar Yaqoob said Result Transmission Service failed after results of 25,000 out of 85,000 polling stations were uploaded.

He rejected any wrongdoing in the election and said "the issue of fraud can be discussed after ECP announces the results."

The Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has claimed victory despite serious questions being raised over the authenticity of the election process.

Sensing victory, PTI supporters erupted in jubilation as trends showed the party was leading on 111 seats.

According to latest trends available, PTI was followed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz of jailed leader Nawaz Sharif. PML-N was leading on 68 National Assembly seats.

Hundreds of PTI supporters came out on streets in several cities, dancing and celebrating.

"We have got our Naya Pakistan," said Shahid Ali, one of the supporters, as he danced euphorically near the busy Faizabad interchange, which links Islamabad with the garrison city of Rawalpindi.

The Press Trust of India correspondent was caught for several hours in traffic when returning from the election coverage as highly-charged PTI workers raised victory slogans.

Reports said similar celebrations were being organised in other cities as well.

The victory and joy in the camp appeared premature as the incumbent PML-N and Bilawal Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party rejected the results. "Our polling agents were not given results and we will not accept it," said Khurshid Shah of PPP.

PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif alleged that the election process was "blatantly" rigged. He warned of protests.

Analysts predicted tumultuous weeks ahead for Pakistan as a strong opposition to the election results was building up.

PML-N was leading on 67 seats and PPP on 39. "They will make a lethal combination if they joined hands against Imran Khan," analyst Sohail Warriach said.

A party can form the government if it manages to clinch 172 seats out of the total 342.

A single party will need at least 137 of the 272 directly-elected seats to be able to form the government on its own. (PTI)
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Hello Jammu News at 2:02:00 PM 0
Muzaffarnagar, Jun 19 :  The Election Commission (EC) has proposed to add 143 polling booths in Uttar Pradesh's Kairana Lok Sabha constituency ahead of the 2019 General Elections, an official said today.



A total of 35 booths are likely to be added in Kairana, 83 in Shamli and 25 in Thana Bhawan assembly segments, additional district magistrate of Shamli, K B Singh said.

The total number of polling booths in Kairana will go up to 347 from the current 312, in Shamli, the number will increase from 299 to 382 and in Thana Bhawan, the total booths will go up from 330 to 355.

Political parties can file objections till June 24, Singh said.

Shamli, Kairana and Thana Bhawan along with Gangoh and Naikur assembly constituencies are part of the five legislative assembly segments of Kairana LS seat-- one of the 80 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state.PTI

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Hello Jammu News at 2:02:00 PM 0
New Delhi May 30 :  The Election Commission today announced biennial polls to three Rajya Sabha seats from Kerala, including the one held by upper house deputy chairman P J Kurien, falling vacant on July 1.

The election would be held on June 21 for which the notification would be issued on June 4, the poll panel said.

Kurien (Congress), Joy Abraham (Kerala Congress-M) and C P Narayanan (CPI-M) are retiring on July 1.

As of now, out of the nine RS seats in the state, three each are held by Congress and CPI (M) and one each by Kerala Congress-M, IUML and an Independent member.PTI
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Hello Jammu News at 2:12:00 PM 0


Ahmedabad, Nov 30: In the run-up to the Gujarat Assembly elections, more than 12 lakh youths will be eligible to vote for the first time, while over seven thousands senior citizens in the age group of 100 plus will be use their franchise. 
As per the latest data released by the Election Commission, 12,37,606 new voters will be able to cast their votes besides 7,670 voters who are above 100 years.
Gujarat has 4.35 crore registered voters and out of it 60 per cent are youths. 
Around 51.92 per cent of the total registered voters fall in the age group of 18-39 year and would play a major role in giving a shape to the forthcoming polls.
Besides, Gujarat has largest number of voters in the age group of 30-39 year at 1.12 crore followed by 1.01 crore in 20-29-year age group. 
In 40-49 year age bracket, there are over 84 lakh voters, while in 50-59 year age group over 62 lakh citizens will go for voting this time.
After 60-year category, over 24 lakh people to use their electoral franchise which include 75,410 of super senior citizens of 90-99 year age block.
The BJP under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah and the Congress-election campaign driven by its vice-president Rahul Gandhi are campaigning neck and neck in the state to retain and revive its prospects in the state, respectively.
The 182-seat Gujarat Assembly will go on for voting in two phases – December 9 and December 14 and the final counting will be done on December 18. UNI 
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Hello Jammu News at 2:15:00 PM 0

Kathmandu, Nov 4: The Election Commission of Nepal (ECN) has unveiled lists of provincial and parliamentary proportional representation candidates submitted by parties.
The poll panel said political parties had submitted names of 6,094 candidates. Of the total candidates in the PR lists for parliamentary and provincial polls, 793 males and 931 females are indigenous peoples, 867 males and 997 females are Khas/Arya, 158 males and 262 females are Tharus, 342 males and 496 females are Dalits, 445 males and 563 females are Madhesis, 81 males and 157 females are Muslims, 158 males and 115 females are differently-abled, and 107 males and 122 females are from marginalised groups, The Himalayan Times reported on Saturday.
Of the 88 parties registered with the EC, only 49 had submitted their closed list for parliamentary PR list. The EC stated that 53 parties had submitted closed list of candidates for provincial PR elections.
Parties had submitted the closed list of proportional representation candidates to the EC on October 15; the EC let the parties correct their name lists from October 16 to 23; the parties submitted amended lists of candidates to the EC between October 23 and 29; complaints against candidates listed in the closed list can be lodged from November 4 to 10; the EC will scrutinise complaints between November 11 and 17 and notify about candidate(s) removed from the closed list on November 18. The poll panel will publish the final closed list on November 19.
Spokesperson for the Election Commission Navaraj Dhakal said the EC had published the names of parties’ PR candidates as per the priority order submitted by the respective parties.
A total of 110 members of the Parliament and 220 members of the provincial assemblies will be elected through the PR election. UNI
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