NEW DELHI: Opposition parties fear the poll dates announced by the Election Commission for Assembly elections in four states had been spread over a month with a design to help the ruling party and that might affect free and fair conduct of the elections, Most parties demanded holding of elections within a span of two three days.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)which is the main contender for power, on Scpt.16, suggested to the Election Commission to summon a meeting of all recognized parties so that consensus could be evolved about polling dates. Party spokesman K.L.Sharma said the announcement of tentative dates spread over a month had caused avoidable confusion in public mind.
However, Sharma said the BJP was ready for the elections and would enter the fray irrespective of whether or not its suggestions were given due consideration. The BJP had been demanding Carly elections and in this context the Commission’s announcement was most welcome. He wished the Commission had come out with firm dates about polls in UP, MP, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh.
Sharma said the election committee of the BJP would meet at Bhopal on Sept.24 where all the four yatras would converge that day to deliberate on the party’s Strategy and selection of candidates. The national executive of the party would meet at Lucknow on October 13 to give final touches to the party ‘selection strategy and identify the issues it would like to project in the fort coming polls Janata Dal (A) president Ajit.
Singh said the poll dates had been, staggered over a month to help the Congress. In the four states going to the poll, the Governors were behaving as the PCC chiefs. Money might play a big role in the forthcoming elections.
The Samajwadi Janata Party (SJP) leader S.P.Malviya demanded simultaneous holding of elections in the four states. The polling dates had been fixed at gaps to help the Congress.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 24, 1993
