EC may discuss poll guidelines next week

August 25, 2018 Hot from the Oven Valli Sarvani No comments

In the wake of Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is going to convene a meeting on August 27, 2018.

In this meeting, election reforms of the country will be discussed.

As the ruling and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is constantly pushing for One Nation, One Poll, it may be figured out in this meeting.

Yet, the ECI has stated that no such agenda is there in the meeting as of now. This is because a proper legal framework is essential to conduct both Lok Sabha elections and Assembly elections together.

As per the ECI, all the seven national parties, 51 regional parties and several other political parties are there. All these parties have been invited to attend the meeting and discuss poll related issues elaborately.

Lok Sabha elections are the primary agenda of this all-party meet. All Assembly elections that fall in this as well as the next year will also be focused in this meeting.

However, there is a possibility of discussion on conducting Lok Sabha elections along with Assembly elections that are close to these elections of the states ruled by the BJP.

The meeting will also discuss reducing election expenses in addition to supporting better candidates to participate in the elections.

The timelines to close the canvass for the elections in both print media and social media, and their guidelines will also be discussed.

As the ruling BJP is constantly trying to hold Lok Sabha and Assembly elections together, the Opposition parties are demanding the use of ballets which were being used in previously. They are opposing the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) suspecting their credibility.

Assumptions are prevalent on the elections of some states including Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Mijoram as they might be held together with the Lok Sabha elections.

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