Submits representation to Election Commission of India
DIMAPUR, JUNE 9 (MExN): The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has submitted a representation to the Election Commission of India (ECI) objecting to the conduct of Bye Elections in the state.
It drew the attention of ECI to the provision of Art 151A of the Representation of the People Act of 1951 as amended in 1996. This representation was submitted by delegates of the NPCC in consultation with AICC Legal Secretary on June 8.
A press note from the NPCC media cell informed that the representation reminded that if the remainder term is less than one year, bye-election shall not apply.
“Since the term of Nagaland Legislative Assembly is due to expire on 12th March 2018, the remainder term is just 8 months away. However if the bye-election were conducted after the Presidential Election which may be in the 4th week of the July or August 2017 and code of conduct of election come into force by the end of Dec 2017 for general election, there will hardly be 4 working months. Further there may only be one day session to fullfill the Constitutional provisions,” it said. Therefore, the NPCC representation said the bye-election is “meaningless to the opposition parties. It is also wasteful to engage the people and Government.” Forcing bye-election in violation will render the Constitutional provisions meaningless and also create uncomfortable precedence in the nation, the NPCC stated.
The NPCC therefore notified its objection to the bye-elections.
The NPCC media cell meanwhile informed that Umesh Sinha, Deputy Election Commissioner, “has assured that the matter will be put up by the ECI for discussion. However he said there are many instances of bye elections in the past.”
