Election Commission Breaks Silence On Gujarat Poll-Dates, Says Flood-Relief Would Have Been Affected

The Election Commission has spoken out for the first time on the controversy surrounding a delay in announcing the dates for the Gujarat polls, saying that imposing the model code of conduct in the state would disrupt flood relief operations. 

Speaking exclusively to Mail Today, Election Commissioner O.P. Rawat said that the body knew that it would be criticised for the call but said that they went ahead with the move anyway. 

"There was no time to weigh other alternatives," Rawat was quoted saying in the interview. Rawat reportedly said that the EC had visited Gujarat between October 9 and 10, saying that they were aware that "there would be motives attributed" to not announcing the dates, but that the body had to look at the "ground reality first".

Elaborating, Rawat explained to the tabloid that "our feedback" from the districts in Gujarat of  "the flood-hit areas was that the work would get affected." Rawat is also quoted saying that "perhaps the reasons attributed by the commission for withholding the dates for Gujarat did not come across as forcefully as it should have during the press conference."

Former finance minister and senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram had questioned the Election Commission's (EC) decision of not announcing the dates for Gujarat elections. 

Rawat reportedly refused to address it in the interview. 

A Deccan Herald editorial also questioned the EC's logic behind the polls. "The explanation that the dates are not being announced so that the ongoing flood relief work in the state is not affected is untenable. The model code does not impede any ongoing disaster relief work. In any case, such work will not be completed before the announcement of the poll schedule. "

Taking to Twitter, Chidambaram had said, "EC will be recalled from its extended holiday after Gujarat Govt. has announced all concessions and freebies."

He further stated that the Election Commission has authorised the Prime Minister to announce the date of Gujarat elections at his last rally.

"EC has authorised PM to announce date of Gujarat elections at his last rally (and kindly keep EC informed)," he said.

Earlier, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) had questioned the EC's decision of upholding the announcement of dates for Gujarat Assembly elections.

The Election Commission was scheduled to announce the dates for Himachal and Gujarat Assembly elections on October 12, but it only announced the dates for Himachal.

Chief Election Commissioner A K Jyoti, had however, said Gujarat polls will be held before December 18, the day when the results of the Himachal Pradesh polls are to be announced.