NEW DELHI: A day after the opposition alleged that the Centre had used its heft to delay the Election Commission’s (EC) announcement of the polling schedule for Gujarat, the government Friday rejected the charges. Gujarat went to polls a month after Himachal Pradesh had voted in 2007 and 2012 as well, government and ruling BJP sources said.
The opposition had alleged that the EC had delayed the announcement because Prime Minister Narendra Modi was slated to unveil populist measures for Gujarat on October 16. The EC had announced that Himachal Pradesh would go to polls on November 9, while the elections for Gujarat would be held by December 18.
“We have done some study on the election schedules of the two states. Himachal Pradesh went to polls on October 20 in 2007, while the first phase of polling for Gujarat was held on November 21. Again, Himachal Pradesh went to polls on October 10 in 2012, while the first phase of polling for Gujarat was held on November 17,” Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told the media at the BJP headquarters.
On Thursday, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala had tweeted: “Modi Government appears to be putting pressure on EC to defer announcement of Gujarat election along with Himachal Pradesh to suit its political ends.”
NCP leader D P Tripathi was also concerned over the delay in the announcement for Gujarat.
“There is no rationale for holding back the announcement of the election schedule for Gujarat,” said Tripathi. He too alleged that the recent visit of Japanese PM Shinzo Abe to Ahmedabad where Narendra Modi hosted him was aimed at influencing voters.
However, CPI national secretary D Raja said it was for the EC to settle the issue at the earliest as any delay would naturally create suspicion in the minds of people. “The EC should explain. Why should there be suspense over the Gujarat poll dates,” Raja asked.
Breaking ranks with opposition parties, rebel JD (U) leader Sharad Yadav defended the EC. “It is okay as per rules,” he said and wondered aloud why the Model Code of Conduct in a poll-bound state was imposed earlier than was warranted.
The BJP was also sharply critical of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi’s attempt to embrace ‘soft Hindutva’ by visiting temples.