The by-elections scheduled for constituencies in Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Himachasl Pradesh, Rajasthan, Meghalaya and Andhra Pradesh have been deferred in wake of the brutal second wave of coronavirus pandemic. The development came weeks after polls assembly polls were held at a much larger scale in a few states across the country.
The Elections Commission of India said in a statement, “Dadra & Nagar Haveli, 28-Khandwa (Madhya Pradesh) & 2-Mandi (Himachal Pradesh) and eight vacancies in Assembly Constituencies namely 01-Kalka and 46-Ellenabad in Haryana, 155-Vallabhnagar in Rajasthan, 33-Sindgi in Karnataka, 47-Rajabala and 13-Mawryngkneng (ST) in Meghalaya, 08-Fatehpur in Himachal Pradesh and 124-Badvel (SC) in Andhra Pradesh. There are few more vacancies of seats for which reports and notifications are awaited and being confirmed.
As per the provisions of section 151A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the vacancies are required to be filled, through bye-elections within six months from the date of occurrence of vacancy, provided that the remainder of the term in relation to the vacancy is one year or more. The Commission has reviewed the matter today and has decided that due to outbreak of the second wave of COVID-19 in the country it would not be appropriate to hold bye-elections till the pandemic situation significantly improves and conditions become conducive to hold these bye-elections,” it added.
The ECI was widely criticised. Not just going ahead with the recent assembly polls in Kerala, Assam, West Bengal, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and planning it in phased manner, but also for allowing large-scale gathering for the poll rallies conducted by every party in the fight.