Pavan Varma | EC's double standard on byelections irks parties
2 months ago

Pavan Varma | EC's double standard on byelections irks parties

Deccan Chronicle  

While critics allege so, I have tried to believe that the Election Commission of India is not partial and discriminatory in implementing its constitutional obligation of conducting elections freely and fairly. I tried to reach the Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar last week to inform him that the four by-polls due on November 13 in Bihar would be seriously affected by the week long Chhath Puja celebrations just preceding them. Petitions from dozens of independent organisations of Bihar involved in the Chhath Puja, requesting for a postponement of the election date, were also received by the EC. He was brusque, dismissive, and totally insensitive to such a genuine request, saying that if the EC took into account religious festivals it would be impossible to hold elections. Imagine my shock then when the same EC issued a directive shortly thereafter that the by-elections in UP, Kerala and Punjab, also due on November 13, would be deferred to November 20 on account of “large scale social, cultural and religious engagements”.

Elections Bihar Election Date Cec  week  parties  byelections  varma  does  ec  irks  double  bihar  religious  date  elections  election  reasons  ecs  standard  pavan  spite

History of this topic

Pavan K. Varma | Why 2024 promises to be an exciting election
1 year, 5 months ago

Pavan K. Varma | Why 2024 promises to be an exciting election

Deccan Chronicle  

The fact that almost the entire political canvas divided into two groups to meet on the same day, July 18, in the lead-up to the 2024 parliamentary elections, was a first in the history of democratic India. The goal of the two groupings was different — for the Opposition, the attempt was to strive for more unity amidst often irresolvable …

Pavan K. Varma | Karnataka's lesson for BJP: Divisiveness has limits
1 year, 8 months ago

Pavan K. Varma | Karnataka's lesson for BJP: Divisiveness has limits

Deccan Chronicle  

The results in Karnataka may or may not influence the final outcome in the parliamentary elections next year, but they hold important takeaways for all parties, especially the Bharatiya Janata Party. Quite apart from the fact that in Assembly elections people vote for the government they think can work for them directly, there is also something unacceptable in the logic …

Pavan K. Varma | Persevere and be clear to build a robust Opposition
2 years, 9 months ago

Pavan K. Varma | Persevere and be clear to build a robust Opposition

Deccan Chronicle  

The five Assembly elections concluded recently have two clear-cut lessons. In 2012, Mulayam Singh Yadav swept UP, with the BJP getting only some ten per cent of the votes; in 2014, the BJP swept UP, trouncing the SP. This has emerged as a very serious weakness in the combined aspirations of the Opposition, since the Congress is the principal opponent …

Pavan K. Varma | Amid corona crisis, it’s politics as usual for BJP
4 years, 6 months ago

Pavan K. Varma | Amid corona crisis, it’s politics as usual for BJP

Deccan Chronicle  

The whole world is in the grip of an unprecedented pandemic. Irrespective of the magnitude of the crisis gripping the country, it wants to attack chief minister Mamata Banerjee and her ruling Trinamul Congress party, and blow the bugle for electoral battle. A great many people believe that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should, at this critical juncture, take the lead …

Discover Related