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Gill appeals for restraint, yet again

Chief Election Commissioner M S Gill today made a fresh appeal to all the political parties and candidates to refrain from making personal allegations against their rival candidates during the ongoing campaign for the Lok Sabha polls.

Speaking to mediapersons, Dr Gill expressed anguish and concern over the reported personal allegations being made by leaders of some political parties against their opponents. It was regrettable that many leaders were indulging in making personal allegations, Dr Gill said and added that political parties should concern themselves with the policies and programmes of their rival candidates and justify why they deserved to be elected.

The Election Commission's guidelines and the Model Code of Conduct were clear on how the candidates and the political parties should conduct themselves during an election campaign. They should not expect the commission to function like a thanedar (police officer), Dr Gill observed.

Replying to a question, Dr Gill said the Lok Sabha election in Jammu and Kashmir would be held as scheduled. He had made an assessment of the situation and the arrangements for elections in the state, Dr Gill said and added the situation was being closely monitored.

On the suggestion of some political parties to amend the law to prohibit a person from contesting from two constituencies simultaneously, Dr Gill said his personal view was that if a person contested from two constituencies and won, he should be allowed to retain one seat as now under the law. But in the second constituency, the candidate polling the second highest number of votes should be declared elected.

This was necessary to avoid by-elections, which was quite expensive, he said. The by-election, if any, should be held within six months after a vacancy was caused in the Lok Sabha or legislative assembly, he said.

When Dr Gill was asked to comment on the manifesto of the National Democratic Alliance that the Constitution should be amended to ensure that the Lok Sabha completes its full term for five years, Dr Gill said it was for Parliament to take a decision in this regard. The commission could not make a comment on the manifesto of a political party, he said.

UNI

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