Lok Sabha Elections 2019: EC Reverts on Congress’s Allegations on Delay of Announcement of Poll Dates, Says ‘We Don’t Operate as Per PM’s Schedule’

New Delhi, March 6: With Congress asking the Election Commission to announce the poll dates for the Lok Sabha Elections 2019 soon, the apex poll conducting body had its explanations for the delay and said that they have their own schedule. Reverting to allegations of Congress of EC waiting for PM Narendra Modi’s schedule to complete, EC source said, ‘We don't operate as per PM's schedule, we have our own schedule.’ In 2014, the election dates were announced on March 5.

Alleging the EC of deliberately delaying the announcement of poll dates so that PM Modi can announce a series of programmes and welfare measures, Congress had questioned on the working of the apex poll conducting body. It is to be known after the poll dates are announced, the model code of conduct will come into effect, and the Union government would not be able to announce any scheme. Ahmed Patel Accuses Election Commission of Delaying Announcement of Lok Sabha Elections 2019 Date, Says 'ECI Giving Long Rope to Modi Government For Campaigning'. 

Earlier too, the Congress had made similar allegations ahead of the assembly elections in Gujarat, stating that BJP had been rushing with people-friendly announcements just ahead of the announcement of elections.

Commenting on the delay, senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel, while questioning EC had said: “Is the Election Commission waiting for the Prime Minister’s “official” travel programs to conclude before announcing dates for General Elections?” Patel had made this comment on March 4 this year, a day before the elections were announced in 2014.

Reverting to the allegation, the EC pointed out that this time they have a slightly more relaxed schedule. An EC official said, as NDTV quotes, “In 2014, the last date of delivering results for General Elections was May 31, and the poll schedule was announced on March 5. This time, the last date to deliver results for General Elections is June 3, so we have enough time, and there is no delay.” Photo Voter Slip Not Enough; List of 11 ID Documents Approved by ECI For Voters Ahead of Lok Sabha Elections 2019. 

The official added that for the EC, the primary concern is to check on the poll preparedness of various states. Along with the Lok Sabha Elections 2019, the poll conducting bodies also have an added responsibility of simultaneous elections in at least one state. For this, the EC had already been working on training the people involved for the smooth conduction of the polls.

Though the dates are yet to be announced, internal sources have stated that the dates might be announced by March 10 and most probably take place in nine phases. Along with the Lok Sabha polls, Assembly elections in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir would most likely take place simultaneously.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 06, 2019 11:58 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).