Published by the Press, Information & Culture Wing, Embassy of India

(May 1999)

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ELECTION COMMISSION DECIDES TO HOLD
LOK SABHA ELECTIONS IN SEPT.-OCT.

(Continued from Front Page)

2.      It is evident that the Election Commission of India (ECI) is faced with the prospect of finding a suitable schedule, for this vast operation, in the most difficult climatic period, between May and the end of September, 1999. An unprecedented heat wave, with temperatures in the range of 45 to 48 degree centigrade, is currently on. The pattern of the monsoon and possible floods in the later months is also a danger. Almost all elections since 1952 have, therefore, taken place in the period November to April or at best in May. However, to fulfil its Constitutional duty, the ECI has to make a difficult choice and look for the least possible inconvenient option.

3.     The Indian election is the largest organised operation in the world, with 600 million voters, about 800 thousand polling stations, requiring about 40 lakh polling staff, needing lakhs of Central para-military forces, whose complex deployment and movement over the voting period, has to be meticulously planned; and the mobilisation of resources, such as budget money, paper, materials etc. Experience has shown that the Central police planning requires a minimum of 4 weeks of repeated and intensive discussions in working groups, composed of the Commission’s DECs, and the heads of Central Police Forces of the country. Their final recommendations, are gone into, and approved by the Commission, in discussions with the Home Secretary and his aides. The Commission has also to organise a meeting with the Chief Secretaries and the Chief Electoral Officers of the States, to know their views, and to make its own comprehensive arrangements, to meet all eventualities. Therefore, the Commission’s finalisation of the election schedule follows this intensive effort that takes place over a minimum period of a month.

4.     The legal requirements of the regular revision of the Electoral Rolls, was initiated by the Commission in February, 1999, to bring on the rolls approximately 1.5 crore new voters. After long labour, the Commission has revised and improved the system for this year’s work, in which about 5 lakh officials are involved, across the country. The work has been half done and large numbers have already been registered. The work will be completed on the 21^st July, 1999. It has also been indicated to the Commission, in the meeting on the 3^rd May, 1999, that any aborting of this work, at this stage, can be legally challenged.

5.     Elections to the 9 State Assemblies, across the country, including some of the largest States, such as Karnataka, Andhra, Maharashtra, Bihar and Orissa have also to be held, as they are approaching the end of their 5-year period. Now that the Lok Sabha elections have been ordered, the Commission has to consult and then decide, how best to undertake this duty, and according to schedule. The question of linking some of them or all of them with the Lok Sabha voting schedule, has also to be examined.

6.     The Commission firmly believes in consultation with the recognised political parties to help it to reach the best possible decisions. This was done before the 1998 Lok Sabha elections. A meeting was, accordingly, held on the 3^rd May, 1999, with all the National and State recognised parties. On all the issues listed above, in a day long meeting, all parties gave their considered views and recommendations. The deliberations of the meeting have been widely circulated today. The Commission has carefully considered their suggestions.

7.     For the first time, in its 50-year history, events have confronted the Commission, with the duty of carrying out National Elections in the most difficult period of the year. This was accepted by all parties in the meeting on the 3^rd May. The problem is compounded by the coming elections to the 9 State Assemblies. The need for studies, discussions and planning of arrangements, already listed, makes it evident that the Commission cannot instantly and blindly announce a poll schedule. The crisis leading after 13 months, to the need for another election, is not of the Commission’s making. The Commission’s sole constitutional duty is now to ensure that the elections are held in good time, to enable the Lok Sabha to meet before the 21^st October, 1999. But, above all, elections have to be held in an efficient, peaceful and transparent manner, to the satisfaction of the Indian people. The issue is not just one of choosing a weather period or wanting a duly elected Government at an early date. The Commission lags behind no one, in seeking always, to have a duly elected representative Government in the country. But the Commission cannot ignore its prime duty of doing an efficient job, so as to maintain the good name of Indian democracy. After deep deliberations, the Election Commission of India has come to the unanimous view, that in the given circumstances, the best possible timing for the elections, considering all factors, is the month of September, and the first week of October, 1999.

8.    The Commission has felt it necessary to give this minimum clear indication, in order to set at rest the controversy between contending parties, and to enable them to do their planning. The Commission will in due time, at an appropriate date, after full preparation, make the formal announcement of the Election Schedule. The Commission wishes to take this opportunity, to thank all the recognised political parties, for their discussions with the Commission on the 3^rd May, 1999, and once again wishes to appeal to all of them, to ensure, that elections are held in a peaceful atmosphere and in a fair and transparent manner, so as to enhance the prestige of Indian democracy.