Election Commission of India News & Updates

[Sushubh]

EC bars political analysts from making specific comment on poll predictions

Political analysts must not predict figures — such as winning margins or the number of seats a party is likely to win — in their comments during polls, the Election Commission announced on Thursday.

“The commission is of the view that predictions of results of elections in any form or manner by way of predictions etc., by astrologers, tarot readers, political analysts or by any persons during the prohibited period is violation of the spirit of Section 126A,” the advisory said.

According to the communiqué, sent to the National Broadcasters Association and Press Council of India among others, all political analysis citing numbers will be considered as exit poll.

The poll panel has set limits, a first in the world’s largest democracy, on what can be said by political commentators without violating the Representation of People’s Act, 1951 — the federal law governing Indian elections.

The law says any offender found guilty can be fined, or imprisoned for up to two years, or both.

 

[Sushubh]

Give us contempt powers to act against those out to sully our image: EC to Govt

In its letter, the EC has cited examples of its counterparts abroad, including ECP, which can initiate contempt proceedings against anyone sullying its image.
The Election Commission (EC) has written to the Law Ministry, seeking powers to act against those questioning the poll panel’s credibility through unfounded allegations.
The Commission, The Indian Express has learnt, has sought amendments to the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, to empower it to punish anyone being disobedient or discourteous towards its authority. The letter was written over a month ago and the matter is currently under consideration with the Law Ministry.

 

[IBF]

Source

Watch this to see how the Election Commission used the power of cloud to ensure the Uttar Pradesh elections were conducted in a fair and transparent manner.

 

[Sushubh]

Seems like another Modi loyalist.

Achal Kumar Joti Appointed Next Chief Election Commissioner

Joti, 64, who was the chief secretary of Gujarat when Narendra Modi was chief minister, will take over as the head of EC on July 6, a notification issued by the law ministry said. Zaidi will demit office on July 5.
Joti, who will be the 21st CEC, has also served as the Gujarat Vigilance Commissioner and worked in various capacities in the state, including as the chairman of the Kandla Port Trust between 1999 and 2004 and the managing director of the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd.
Joti, a 1975-batch IAS officer who joined the three-member commission as an election commissioner on May 8, 2015, will be in office till January 17, 2018. He retired as the Gujarat chief secretary in January 2013.

So he would be chief for less than a year? Unless they change the rules.

 

[Sushubh]

Om Prakash Rawat appointed new chief election commissioner | india-news | Hindustan Times

 

[Sushubh]

Rawat had in April 2016 recused himself from a poll panel hearing to assess if the MLAs were holding office of profit after Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal accused him of bias.

Kejriwal, who is also the AAP chief, had alleged that Rawat was close to Madhya Pradesh chief minister and senior BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chauhan.

A miffed Rawat decided to stay away from the hearing to “uphold the public perception of the impartiality and objectivity of the Election Commission of India”. He re-joined the hearing after CEC Nasim Zaidi demitted office.

seems like a reasonable guy but then

 

[Sushubh]

or maybe not.

Om Prakash Rawat: I support linking Aadhaar to voters’ identity: New CEC Om Prakash Rawat - The Economic Times

 

[Sushubh]

Election Commission chief Om Prakash Rawat interview: ‘Withdrew Rahul Gandhi notice as it would criminalise many’ | The Indian Express

 

[Sushubh]

Amid AAP ruckus, new CEC O.P. Rawat says nothing’s wrong with poll panel

 

[Sushubh]

Election Commission debuts on Facebook, YouTube | india-news | Hindustan Times