NEW DELHI: Major political parties barring the BJP disfavored promulgation of an ordinance to prevent countermanding of polls in the event of death of an independent candidate saying it was too late to enact such a law with the elections hardly a week away.
Chief Election Commissioner T.N.Seshan told newsmen after a 45-minute all party meeting convened by the commission that the political parties felt such a measure could be considered as part of long term electoral reforms.
The BJP was of the view that elections should not be countermanded if a candidate died and the recognized political parties should be given the option to put up a fresh nominee.
The meeting which also considered mixing ballot papers from contiguous areas was attended by representatives of the Congress-I CPI CPI(M) Indian Socialist Congress the Janata Party the Janata Dal the Samajwadi Janata Party the Lok Dal and the BJP.
The views of the political parties and the election commission on promulgation of such an ordinance would be conveyed by the commission.to the government Seshan Said
‘The major political parties also came out against mixing of ballot Papers and felt that the existing procedure of booth-wise counting should be continued Seshan said.
However the Indian socialist Congress was of the opinion that ballot papers from contiguous areas in Lok Sabha constituencies in Punjab and Assam should be mixed before counting he said.
‘The meeting was convened by the commission at the request of the center which felt that an ordinance should be brought into force to obviate countermanding of polls if an independent candidate died.
The BJP told the meeting that it favored issuance of the ordinance specifically for Punjab and Assam in view of the disturbed conditions there.
Surendra Mohan of the Janata Dal said his Party was against the Ordinance at this stage and felt the existing laws on countermanding should continue.
Mohan said that the commission should not tender any advice to the government in this regard.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 24, 1991