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Election Commission decision on Gujarat poll dates under cloud?

Published

9 years ago

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Election Commission

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Election Commission of India’s (EC) reasons for its decision to defer announcement of Gujarat election dates have come under a cloud following information obtained under a right to information (RTI) query.

While the doubts over dependability of electronic voting machines (EVMs) refuse to die down despite EC’s stout defence, this has given rise further questions about the EC’s handling of elections.

On October 12, the EC announced dates for elections to Himachal Pradesh Assembly but withheld dates for Gujarat Assembly polls. Both state assemblies’ terms expire within two weeks of each other and this seemed unusual. The EC explained that announcement of Gujarat election dates was withheld so that the model code of conduct does not affect flood relief work necessitated by unprecedented rains in Gujarat.

The model code of conduct is intended to provide a level playing field to all candidates and bars the government from announcing new schemes to woo voters once the election dates are announced. It remains in force till polling is over.

The Indian Express (IE) has reported that replies to RTI queries show that model code of conduct was in force in Jammu and Kashmir when relief work was on following massive flooding in the state in 2014. The code of conduct did not come in the way of relief work. The September 2014 Jammu and Kashmir floods, in which over 300 died and thousands affected, were considered one of the worst to hit the state in decades. The EC, then headed by VS Sampath, had decided against delaying the polls and held it in five phases between 25 November and 20 December. The state recorded 65 per cent voter turnout, the highest in 25 years.

In October this year, replying to questions from reporters about reasons for withholding announcement of Gujarat poll dates, Chief Election Commissioner AK Joti had cited some office memorandums issued earlier to justify the delay in the announcement. He had said the EC had a statutory 21 days to carry out elections that can extend up to 45 days. He had also said that besides availability of central forces and festive season, the Gujarat government had told the Commission that several relief and rehabilitation works were on in the state following the July floods.

According to Joti, the Gujarat chief secretary had written to EC asking for additional time as the relief and rehabilitation for July floods had begun only in September and were yet to be completed. “They have suggested that the Model Code of Conduct should be imposed for a reasonable time, so that they do not face problems in carrying out relief and rehabilitation work,” Joti had said.

While the EC found merit in Gujarat’s request, records showed that the model code of conduct did not affect relief and rehabilitation work for J&K floods. According to the IE report, EC records for Jammu and Kashmir 2014 election show that there was no official request from the state chief secretary to delay announcement of election dates. On November 5, 2014, the EC wrote to the cabinet secretary, state chief secretary and state chief electoral officer, informing them that it had relaxed model code provisions and they could continue with relief and rehabilitation “as per approved schemes of the central/ state governments” and no prior approval from EC was required for this.

The state government was also allowed to give out ex-gratia payment and gratuitous relief directly to victims and families without approval from EC in this case.

The IE reported that it had filed a separate RTI application seeking copies of letters written by the Gujarat Chief Secretary requesting delay in announcement of polls on account of relief work. The EC acknowledged the receipt of two letters, on September 27 and October 2, but did not provide their copies on the ground that the file was “under submission”. The EC also said that it had not issued any reply to the Gujarat Chief Secretary in response to the two letters.

The delay in announcement of Gujarat election dates, in the name of flood relief work, was used by BJP government in Gujarat for announcing a number of sops right up to a day before the election dates were finally announced on Nov 1.

The BJP government effected a 50 percent hike in the incentive paid to Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA), village-level women workers who are a key component in the implementation of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).

For farmers, the Vijay Rupani-government said it would waive off 18 percent Goods and Service Tax (GST) charged on the purchase of equipment meant for drip or sprinkler irrigation.

The government raised the ceiling on the annual income of OBC, SC and ST beneficiaries for availing benefits of state-funded schemes and scholarships.

On 22 October, Modi inaugurated a Rs 650 crore roll on-roll off (Ro-Ro) ferry service that reduces travel time by six hours between Saurashtra and South Gujarat.

418 cases against Patidars filed during the reservation protests were withdrawn by the police, reported News18.

The EC decision to delay Gujarat election dates came in for severe criticism.

Congress leader P Chidambaram had criticised the EC saying that by not announcing the Gujarat poll schedule, it has “authorised” Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare the dates at his last rally, after all “freebies” for the state were doled out. The Congress had also alleged that the government put “pressure” on the poll panel to “delay” the announcement of Gujarat Assembly poll schedule to enable the prime minister to act as a “false Santa Claus” and offer sops.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Himanta Sarma jabs at Mamata over new Trinamool symbol, says football will deflate

Himanta Biswa Sarma took a dig at Mamata Banerjee after her faction received the Football Player symbol ahead of the October 6 West Bengal bypolls.

Published

11 hours ago

on

September 20, 2026

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Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has taken a swipe at Mamata Banerjee after the Election Commission allotted her faction a new party name and the Football Player electoral symbol ahead of the West Bengal bypolls.

The Mamata Banerjee-led faction was given the name Mamata All India Trinamool Congress and the Football Player symbol on Friday. The rival faction led by Arup Roy was allotted the name Democratic Trinamool Congress and the Envelope symbol.

The Election Commission had earlier frozen the use of the All India Trinamool Congress name and the traditional Flowers and Grass symbol by the rival factions pending a final decision on their organisational dispute.

What Himanta Sarma said about Mamata’s new symbol

Speaking to reporters during his visit to West Bengal, Himanta Biswa Sarma said the new electoral symbol allotted to Mamata Banerjee’s faction would also soon lose its relevance.

“The football will get deflated,” Sarma said, adding that Mamata Banerjee would be “nowhere” after two days.

Sarma also claimed that Mamata Banerjee would not return to power in West Bengal. He said Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari would carry out development work in the state while Mamata Banerjee would watch from the sidelines.

These were Sarma’s political remarks about Mamata Banerjee and her faction, rather than an independently established outcome.

Trinamool factions get separate names and symbols

The Election Commission’s decision came ahead of the October 6 bypolls to Nandigram and Rejinagar in West Bengal.

Under the interim arrangement, neither faction can use the original All India Trinamool Congress name or the Flowers and Grass symbol for the upcoming bypolls. The poll body said the arrangement would remain in place pending a substantive determination over which group represents the recognised political party.

The Mamata-led faction will contest under the name Mamata All India Trinamool Congress with the Football Player symbol, while the rival group will use Democratic Trinamool Congress with the Envelope symbol.

Sarma also targets Rahul Gandhi over Nandigram

Sarma also criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the arrest of Congress’s Nandigram bypoll candidate Milan Pradhan.

Pradhan was arrested by West Bengal Police on the basis of four pending non-bailable warrants linked to cases dating back to the 2007 Nandigram anti-land acquisition agitation. Police said the cases included serious offences such as murder and attempt to murder.

Mamata Banerjee’s faction had withdrawn its own Nandigram candidate, Sanchita Pradhan Dey, and announced support for Congress nominee Milan Pradhan.

Sarma defended the arrest and questioned the Congress decision to field a candidate facing criminal cases. His comments came after Rahul Gandhi and Congress described the arrest as political targeting and “murder of democracy”.

The developments come amid heightened political activity in West Bengal ahead of the October 6 bypolls and the continuing dispute over the Trinamool Congress’s name and electoral symbol.

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ABVP sweeps 3 of 4 Delhi University Students’ Union posts, BJP takes a dig at Rahul Gandhi

ABVP won three of the four key Delhi University Students’ Union posts, while independent candidate Deepanshu Shokeen secured the vice-president’s position.

Published

24 hours ago

on

September 19, 2026

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The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) won three of the four key positions in the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections, with BJP leaders using the results to target Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

The results announced on Saturday saw ABVP candidates win the president, secretary and joint secretary positions. Independent candidate Deepanshu Shokeen won the vice-president’s post.

The outcome left the Congress-backed National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) without any of the four central panel positions. NSUI had won the vice-president’s post in the previous year’s election.

ABVP wins three key posts

ABVP’s Yash Dabas defeated Congress-backed NSUI candidate Vijay Shankar Meena in the presidential contest.

Dabas secured 24,576 votes, while Meena received 22,523 votes, giving the ABVP candidate a winning margin of 2,053 votes.

ABVP’s Riya Chhawdi won the secretary’s post with 21,650 votes, against 14,869 votes secured by the NSUI candidate.

For joint secretary, ABVP’s Lakshya Raj Singh received 16,615 votes. Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha candidate Vishesh Yadav polled 15,778 votes, while NSUI’s Gopal Chaudhary finished third with 15,206 votes.

Independent candidate wins vice-president post

The vice-president’s contest produced a different result.

Deepanshu Shokeen, a former NSUI member who contested as an independent after not receiving the organisation’s ticket, won the position.

His victory meant that ABVP took three central panel posts, while the remaining position went to an independent candidate.

BJP leaders target Rahul Gandhi

The DUSU results also triggered political reactions from BJP leaders, who linked the outcome to Rahul Gandhi’s recent youth outreach programme, “Chhatron Ki Goonj”.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda said, “I didn’t hear the goonj (echo) but definitely heard the dhamaka (explosion),” in an apparent reference to Gandhi’s campaign.

Other BJP leaders also criticised the Congress following the results. The report said BJP leaders described the DUSU outcome as an indicator of student sentiment towards the Congress.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated ABVP workers, while Education Minister Pralhad Joshi said the organisation had secured the president, secretary and joint secretary posts.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also congratulated the winning ABVP candidates, including Yash Dabas, Riya Chhawdi and Lakshya Raj Singh. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta similarly congratulated the winners.

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IIT Bombay student dies by suicide after being caught using ChatGPT in exam

A second-year IIT Bombay student died by suicide after being found using a mobile phone during an exam. The institute said he had uploaded the question paper to ChatGPT and faced no formal disciplinary action.

Published

1 day ago

on

September 19, 2026

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A second-year IIT Bombay student died by suicide on Friday evening after being found using a mobile phone during an examination, according to the institute. The student had uploaded the examination question paper to ChatGPT to seek answers during the test.

The student was from the Department of Energy Science and Engineering. IIT Bombay said that no disciplinary action had been initiated against him following the incident.

The institute said the matter was discussed with the student by the examination instructor and the Head of the Department. They counselled him and assured him that the incident would not adversely affect his academic career.

The student subsequently returned to his hostel room. He was later found dead in his room.

IIT Bombay says circumstances being investigated

IIT Bombay expressed deep sadness over the student’s death and said it was extending support to his friends, classmates, faculty members and others affected by the incident.

The institute said the circumstances surrounding the death were being looked into by the appropriate authorities.

Police personnel were deployed on the campus after students gathered to protest following the student’s death. Deputy Commissioner of Police Dattatray Nalawade said an investigation was underway.

“Today, a student died by suicide at IIT Powai. Following this, some IIT students gathered and started a protest over their demands,” the DCP said.

He added that the IIT administration was holding discussions with the students to reach an amicable solution.

IIT Bombay students protest

Following news of the student’s death, a section of students gathered on the IIT Bombay campus and demanded accountability and transparency from the administration.

The protest came amid concerns raised by students over the circumstances surrounding the student’s death.

According to the institute, the student had been counselled by faculty members after being found using a mobile phone during the examination and was assured that the incident would not adversely affect his academic career.

The incident is being examined by the appropriate authorities.

Third reported suicide at IIT Bombay

The death is the third reported case of suicide at the IIT Powai campus in recent months, according to the report.

A second-year student died by suicide in February. In July 2026, a 20-year-old second-year BTech student also died by suicide at the beginning of the new semester.

IIT Bombay has said it is extending support to students, faculty members and others affected by the latest incident.

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