UP’s month-long vote paralyses Punjab, Uttarakhand Govts

Amitabh Shukla / Chandigarh

Election Commission has forced Punjab and Uttarakhand into an administrative paralysis where no decision can be taken nor implemented as Model Code of Conduct is still in force and would continue to be so for over a month.

“This is the first time that in my memory that I have seen such a huge gap between polling and the result. We are whiling away time by watching TV in our offices,” said a senior Punjab bureaucrat.

He is not the only one. Senior officials say that it’s a complete travesty of the democratic process where no one knows who is ruling the state – the chief minister, Governor, Chief Electoral Officer or the Chief Election Commissioner from New Delhi.

“This was clearly avoidable. Even if elections had been held in Punjab or Uttarakhand on March 3, results could have been announced on March 6, as is scheduled now. What is the point in paralysing the state administration for as long as 37 days after the polls,” asked a senior official.

EC officials in New Delhi and Chandigarh have their reasons for an early date but it’s hardly convincing. They don’t want to be quoted but cite the procedure for deciding the election dates - consultations with the political parties, movement of paramilitary force from one state to the other poll bound states, weather, past practice, tenure of the House, administrative convenience, school examinations, holidays, festivals etc.

Sources in Akali Dal said that the party was taken by surprise when January 30 was announced as polling date as it was expecting a date between February 10 and February 15 given the fact that the last two assembly elections in 2007 and 2002 were held on February 13. Even in 1997, the polls were held on February 7 and results announced two days later on February 9, 1997.

In 2007, after polling on February 13, results were announced in 14 days on February 27. While 2002 Assembly polls were also held on February 13, results were announced on February 24.

Asked about the prolonged spell of Model Code of Conduct, Chief Electoral Officer of Punjab, Kusumjit Sidhu told The Pioneer that she has apprised the Election Commission about the situation and awaiting further instructions.

Apart from Punjab, Uttarakhand too faces the same problem and this was the first time in the history of the Hill state that polls were held in the peak of winters. After the state was formed, two assembly elections have been held – in 2002 and 2007 and in both polls were held in February and there was very little gap between polling date and the result announcement.

In 2002, polls in Uttarakhand were held on February 14 and results announced ten days later on February 24. Similarly in 2007, polls were held on February 21 and results announced six days later on Feb 27.

“The CM has not yet asked us to approach EC for relaxation of the model code of conduct. If he asks us, the request will be immediately forwarded to the EC,” said Punjab Chief Secretary, SC Agarwal. He said the state government cannot take policy decisions and cannot transfer officials during this period. Though the CM is “functional” as care-taker, he can only make decisions and pass orders if problems relate to law and order and natural calamity.

What has compounded the woes of Punjab is the shifting of 35 Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officers from the state as election observers in the other four states - Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, Goa and Uttrakhand. This has severely affected administration with nothing being done for the last almost a month. They will continue to be deputed as election officials till the polling results are out, said Agrawal.

Ruling Akali Dal in Punjab has not openly come out against the timing of the polls in January but BJP in Uttarakhand had protested against polls being held in the peak of Winter. Akali Dal, nevertheless, registered its protest against the EC for overlooking complaints against Congress and transferring officials.

A section of Akali leadership allege that Chief Election Commissioner could be having political ambitions as Congress had earlier rewarded M S Gill, another chief Election Commissioner with a Rajya Sabha nomination and a Cabinet berth.

“They (Congress) have set an unhealthy precedent where a former CEC was rewarded. All CECs would now take inspiration and would be biased towards the party ruling at the Centre,” said a BJP leader here. (4.2.2012)

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