EC seeks explanation from CS, DC for request to extend polling time

NEW DELHI/CHANDIGARH : The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday asked Punjab chief secretary Anirudh Tewari and Sangrur deputy commissioner Jitendra Jorwal to explain why they sought extension of polling time for the Sangrur Lok Sabha byelection towards closing hours.

In a letter to Punjab’s chief electoral officer, the commission said it amounted to interfering in the election process and influence certain class of voters. “The letter of the returning officer and the subsequent request by the chief secretary at 4.05pm amounts to attempt of unduly interfering in the election process and influence certain class of voters by conveying them to expedite voting or wait for time extension,” the commission wrote, condemning such behaviour by the officers during election process.

In a strongly worded letter, the poll panel conveyed its displeasure over the unwarranted communication making request for extension of poll timing on the poll day for reasons which pre-existed even during notification of the byelection.

The commission has sought detailed explanation from the chief secretary and Sangrur deputy commissioner regarding reasons and circumstances and new facts that arose in the afternoon of polling day necessitating writing of such letter. They have been asked to send their replies to the commission by 1pm on Friday for taking “further decision on initiating disciplinary proceedings”, the letter by a secretary in the poll panel said.

The poll panel shot off the letter after the Sangrur DC, who is the returning officer (RO) for the bypoll, wrote to the chief electoral officer, and the chief secretary sent a communication to the Chief Election Commissioner along with the RO’s letter. Tewari and Jorwal did not respond to calls.

Chief minister and former Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann, whose party is trying to retain the seat, also took to Twitter earlier to request the Election Commission to increase the voting time by an hour till 7 pm. He posted that a large section of electorate was busy in paddy transplantation in their fields and had been unable to exercise their franchise. The byelection was necessitated after Mann got elected to the state assembly.

The letter of the returning officer and the subsequent request by the chief secretary at 4.05pm amounts to attempt of unduly interfering in the election process. ELECTION COMMISSION