Date: 
13.06.2010

SHIMLA, 13 JUNE: The Election Commission is not mandated to hold simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and State assemblies and only the Parliament can make a law to provide for this, Chief Election Commissioner Mr Navin Chawla said today.

"Only the Parliament is competent to make law to provide for simultaneous polls but in my personal opinion it is not feasible under present circumstances," Mr Chawla said after inaugurating a photo exhibition here.

"Democracy has spread out and many new dimensions have been added. And as such, I don't think it is possible to hold simultaneous election," the CEC observed.

Ruling out the possibility of misuse of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), Mr Chawla said these devices were functioning well and complaints made by some sections were found to be "baseless".

"The process (of accounting in the EVMs) is irreversible and many other countries have also followed India," he said.

Expressing satisfaction over progress of photo identity card scheme, the CEC said that 82 per cent voters across the country have been provided with these cards.

Mr Chawla asked the Himachal Pradesh government to ensure 100 per cent coverage of these cards by September end, which presently stood at 94 per cent. He also urged the state chief secretary to meet the shortfall of 800 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and also revise their remuneration.

Referring to paid news syndrome, Mr Chawla said that the Election Commission has received only one complaint. More such complaints should be made to the Commission so that action could be taken against the guilty, he said. When asked about the introduction of internet voting facility, the CEC said that it was not possible in the country at present.

City: 
SHIMLA
Source url: 
http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&show=archive&id=331005&catid=35&year=2010&month=6&day=13&Itemid=66
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