Yogi security to have ‘fit and 40’
BJP, Congress stay away from consultation meeting
Lucknow: Security personnel who are agile and physically fit and below the age of 40 will now serve in the personal security of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Those who do not fit into this criterion will be withdrawn. This is being done in view of the growing threat perception to the Chief Minister whose interaction with the public has increased.
Political parties were divided on the issue of holding Lok Sabha and assembly polls simultaneously with four supporting the idea and nine opposing it, even as the ruling BJP and the main opposition Congress stayed away from a consultation organised by the Law Commission on the subject.
At the end of the twoday consultation on simultaneous polls, besides the NDA ally Shiromani Akali Dal, the AIADMK, the Samajwadi Party and the Telangana Rashtra Samiti supported the idea.
However, BJP ally Goa Forward Party opposed the concept as did the Trinamul Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, DMK, Telugu Desam, CPI, CPI (M), Forward Block and the JD (S).
The SP, TRS, AAP, DMK, TD, JD (S) and All India Forward Block met the Law Commission to put forth their views.
The SP, represented by Ram Gopal Yadav, supported the concept. But Yadav made it clear that the first simultaneous poll should be held in 2019, when the term of the 16th Lok Sabha comes to an end.
If simultaneous polls are held in 2019, the tenure of the Yogi Adityanath's BJP government in Uttar Pradesh will be shortened. AAP's Ashish Khaitan told the law panel that simultaneous polls are a “ploy” to keep people away from forming a government as the terms of houses will be extended if the two polls are held together.
He also dubbed the idea as a move to impose “managed” democracy” in the country, according to a senior law panel functionary present in the deliberations.
He also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should be governing the country and not addressing rallies if simultaneous polls are held.
In a written response to the law panel, Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao said his party supports the idea as months are spent preparing for polls throughout the year.
B. Vinod Kumar, who represented TRS at the meeting, said the analysis that local issues would be overshadowed by national issues if simultaneous polls are held, is incorrect.
He gave examples of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to drive home the point that voters cast ballot keeping in mind both national and local issues.
The Telugu Desam opposed the idea, saying, “Simultaneous elections are no longer feasible in a vast country like ours with different political complexities of the assemblies. It is not possible to cut short the tenure of the Parliament and Assemblies. .”
The DMK, JD(S) and AIFB also opposed the concept.
The BJP, which has voiced its support to the proposal, has sought more time from the Commission to present its views on the issue.
It has been told to do so by July 31 as the term of the present panel ends by August end, the sources said.
THE TWO-DAY consultation on simultaneous polls was organised by the Law Commission.
BESIDES the NDA ally Shiromani Akali Dal, the AIADMK, the Samajwadi Party and the Telangana Rashtra Samiti supported the idea.
BJP ally Goa Forward Party opposed the concept as did the Trinamul Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, DMK, Telugu Desam, CPI, CPI (M), Forward Block and the JD (S).