NEW DELHI: Election to the 68member Himachal Assembly was completed on Nov.9, when 32 lakh voters exercised their franchise but it will take the Indian election commission several days to announce the results.
Heavy security arrangements marked the one day poll in Himachal Pradesh following complaints that Punjab chief minister Beant Singh had inducted the police from his state to rig elections in favor of the ruling Congress (I), In fact, the Himachal police arrested nine Punjab policemen belonging to Jalandhar district who admitted that they had been sent by the Jalandhar district police chief to rig the elections.
The elections to the Rajasthan Assembly will be held on Noy.11 while the poll to the U.P. and Madhya Pradesh assemblies will be held later this month; the election to the Delhi state assembly has also been completed.
Apart from the staggered poll, what will delay announcement of the results will be the new rule that the result should first go to the election commission who will’ clear its announcement.
Three major forces are in the fray. These are Congress (I), the BJ.P. And the Janata Dal. There are virtually straight contests in Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan. In U.P. and Madhya Pradesh mulucomered effective contests are likely. In Delhi also the contests are almost straight with certain pockets being influenced by the Janata Dal.
The BJP leaders are pinning high hopes on the electoral olit come in Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan as also in Delhi.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 12, 1993
