New Delhi: Aug. 22 — The Elections Commission announced today that September elections will take place in Punjab state despite calls for a postponement by Sikhs who fear a new wave of trouble in the State.
The commission, independent of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s government, set Sept. 25 to elect at 117member state assembly and 13 national Parliament members — the first election in federally ruled Punjab since 1980.
Chief Election Commissioner R. K. Trivedi said the new date, postponed from Sept. 22, was fixed after a late-night meeting with the chief secretary of Punjab state, P. H. Vaishnav.
He said he accepted Vaishnav’s request to delay the elections in the northern state by three days out of respect for Sikhs, who were to observe the conclusion of last rites for their assassinated leader Sunday.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 30, 1985
