Exclusive: Former J&K CM Farooq Abdullah questions Election Commission's decision

<p>Microblogging platform Twitter Thursday said it has formed an internal, cross-functional group to lead "electoral integrity work" in India that will proactively support partner escalations, and identify potential threats from malicious actors.</p>

<p>The US-based company, which has been facing heat over allegations of political bias in India, said its teams work closely with political parties across the spectrum to train them on using Twitter to best engage with their constituents.</p>

<p>"Similar to the model put in place for other recent elections around the world such as the US, Brazil, and Mexico, Twitter has formed an internal, cross-functional elections group to lead electoral integrity work in India from now through polling day," Twitter said in a statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Using proprietary-built internal tools, the team proactively protects trends, supports partner escalations, and identifies potential threats from malicious actors, it added.</p>

<p>Twitter has been summoned by the parliamentary panel on information technology to appear before it on February 25. The panel had decided to call senior Twitter officials against the backdrop of growing concerns about safeguarding citizens' data privacy and the possibility that social media could be used to interfere in elections.</p>

<p>Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the government has been warning social media platforms of strong action if any attempt was made to influence the country's electoral process through undesirable means.</p>

<p>Twitter, in its statement Thursday, said its India team is continuing "transparent and consistent communication" with political parties as well as the Election Commission of India so that they know how to report suspicious, abusive, and rule-violating activity to Twitter.</p>

<p>The company, which counts India among its largest markets, has also launched a dedicated, elections-specific support portal for election partners to provide feedback directly about issues and concerns that could arise during the 2019 Indian election.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"This process is designed to ensure the company receives and reviews critical feedback about emerging issues as quickly as possible," it added.</p>

<p>Twitter said its teams continue to hold training and workshops with both regional and national parties and their respective state units.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"In last year, eight regional parties were onboard to Twitter including DMK, AIADMK, Samajwadi Party, Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Telangana Rashtra Samiti, and Makkal Needhi Mariam," it said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The company is also working with Indian political parties to verify candidates, elected officials, and relevant party officials whose accounts will be active in the public conversation, it added.</p>

<p>"We deeply respect the integrity of the election process and are committed to providing a service that fosters and facilitates free and open democratic debate. This is a constant process of learning and we gain insights from every election around the world, which helps inform our approach to this evolving challenge," Twitter Global Vice President Public Policy Colin Crowell said.</p>

<p>He added that the 2019 Lok Sabha is a priority for the company and its "dedicated cross-functional team is working to ensure that the health of the public conversation is enhanced and protected at this important time".</p>


Microblogging platform Twitter Thursday said it has formed an internal, cross-functional group to lead "electoral integrity work" in India that will proactively support partner escalations, and identify potential threats from malicious actors.

Microblogging platform Twitter Thursday said it has formed an internal, cross-functional group to lead "electoral integrity work" in India that will proactively support partner escalations, and identify potential threats from malicious actors. The US-based company, which has been facing heat over allegations of political bias in India, said its teams work closely with political parties across the spectrum to train them on using Twitter to best engage with their constituents. "Similar to the model put in place for other recent elections around the world such as the US, Brazil, and Mexico, Twitter has formed an internal, cross-functional elections group to lead electoral integrity work in India from now through polling day," Twitter said in a statement. Using proprietary-built internal tools, the team proactively protects trends, supports partner escalations, and identifies potential threats from malicious actors, it added. Twitter has been summoned by the parliamentary panel on information technology to appear before it on February 25. The panel had decided to call senior Twitter officials against the backdrop of growing concerns about safeguarding citizens' data privacy and the possibility that social media could be used to interfere in elections. Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the government has been warning social media platforms of strong action if any attempt was made to influence the country's electoral process through undesirable means. Twitter, in its statement Thursday, said its India team is continuing "transparent and consistent communication" with political parties as well as the Election Commission of India so that they know how to report suspicious, abusive, and rule-violating activity to Twitter. The company, which counts India among its largest markets, has also launched a dedicated, elections-specific support portal for election partners to provide feedback directly about issues and concerns that could arise during the 2019 Indian election. "This process is designed to ensure the company receives and reviews critical feedback about emerging issues as quickly as possible," it added. Twitter said its teams continue to hold training and workshops with both regional and national parties and their respective state units. "In last year, eight regional parties were onboard to Twitter including DMK, AIADMK, Samajwadi Party, Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Telangana Rashtra Samiti, and Makkal Needhi Mariam," it said. The company is also working with Indian political parties to verify candidates, elected officials, and relevant party officials whose accounts will be active in the public conversation, it added. "We deeply respect the integrity of the election process and are committed to providing a service that fosters and facilitates free and open democratic debate. This is a constant process of learning and we gain insights from every election around the world, which helps inform our approach to this evolving challenge," Twitter Global Vice President Public Policy Colin Crowell said. He added that the 2019 Lok Sabha is a priority for the company and its "dedicated cross-functional team is working to ensure that the health of the public conversation is enhanced and protected at this important time".

Twitter forms internal team for upholding electoral integrity on platform in India

<p>Acting on a directive of the Election Commission of India (ECI), a demonstration-cum-mock poll on the functioning of EVM-VVPAT was conducted in the premises of the Orissa High Court on Tuesday.</p>

<p>The exercise was held before Justice Kalpesh Satyendra Jhaveri, Chief Justice of Orissa High Court and other Puisne judges of the High Court.&nbsp;</p>

<p>During the demonstration, Surendra Kumar, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Odisha made a brief presentation on the EVM- VVPAT and informed the judges that the VVPAT will be used for the first time in the forthcoming simultaneous general elections in Odisha.</p>

<p>The Chief Justice of Orissa High Court and all the judges participated in a mock poll and were satisfied with the demonstration.</p>

<p>Chief Electoral Officer, Odisha informed the judges about the Voter Helpline application developed by the ECI whereby any voter can verify their names in the electoral roll. The application is available for download on Google play store.</p>

<p>The judges were also informed that application for inclusion or correction can be made currently, which is the period of continuous updating of electoral polls.&nbsp;</p>


Acting on a directive of the Election Commission of India (ECI), a demonstration-cum-mock poll on the functioning of EVM-VVPAT was conducted in the premises of the Orissa High Court on Tuesday.

Acting on a directive of the Election Commission of India (ECI), a demonstration-cum-mock poll on the functioning of EVM-VVPAT was conducted in the premises of the Orissa High Court on Tuesday. The exercise was held before Justice Kalpesh Satyendra Jhaveri, Chief Justice of Orissa High Court and other Puisne judges of the High Court. During the demonstration, Surendra Kumar, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Odisha made a brief presentation on the EVM- VVPAT and informed the judges that the VVPAT will be used for the first time in the forthcoming simultaneous general elections in Odisha. The Chief Justice of Orissa High Court and all the judges participated in a mock poll and were satisfied with the demonstration. Chief Electoral Officer, Odisha informed the judges about the Voter Helpline application developed by the ECI whereby any voter can verify their names in the electoral roll. The application is available for download on Google play store. The judges were also informed that application for inclusion or correction can be made currently, which is the period of continuous updating of electoral polls.

Odisha: High court judges given demonstration of EVM

<p>An NGO has sent a notice to the Election Commission of India (ECI) demanding it frame guidelines to regulate the functioning of online social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook, ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.</p>

<p>The legal notice by the Centre for Accountability and Systemic Change (CASC) states that if the Election Commission fails to act the matter will be taken to court.</p>

<p>This development has come to light after CASC in its representation to the then Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat sought mandatory registration of WhatsApp groups formed by political parties or candidates with the Election Commission.</p>

<p>Election Commission had come up with its first instructions for social media on October 25 2013.</p>


An NGO has sent a notice to the Election Commission of India (ECI) demanding it frame guidelines to regulate the functioning of online social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook, ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

An NGO has sent a notice to the Election Commission of India (ECI) demanding it frame guidelines to regulate the functioning of online social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook, ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The legal notice by the Centre for Accountability and Systemic Change (CASC) states that if the Election Commission fails to act the matter will be taken to court. This development has come to light after CASC in its representation to the then Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat sought mandatory registration of WhatsApp groups formed by political parties or candidates with the Election Commission. Election Commission had come up with its first instructions for social media on October 25 2013.

Notice sent to ECI to frame guidelines for social media sites

<p>Leaders of several <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/evm-tampering-issue-tmc-21-other-opposition-parties-to-move-election-commission-195074">opposition parties approached the Election Commission</a> on Monday and sought redressal of the issue of alleged tampering of electronic voting machines (EVMs).</p>

<p>The opposition leaders demanded the poll panel ensure that 50 per cent of EVM results are matched and cross-checked with voter-verifiable paper audit trails (VVPATs) before the declaration of results in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.</p>

<p>The leaders told the Election Commission the people of the country doubted the efficacy of EVMs and this issue needs to be redressed.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Election Commission: The Commission assured the political parties that issues raised by them would be deliberated and examined. <a href="https://t.co/DLmiZHR0sI">https://t.co/DLmiZHR0sI</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1092431819985899521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>The opposition delegation met the Chief Election Commissioner and other members of the panel.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, N Chandrababu Naidu after opposition leaders meet EC: To bring transparency to election process we should go back to paper ballot but due to time constraint, we are demanding that 50% of VVPATs should be counted at random &amp; be tallied with EVMs. <a href="https://t.co/tbP2AoEoNS">pic.twitter.com/tbP2AoEoNS</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1092422876882337794?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>The opposition parties had earlier sought moving back to the ballot paper system, but after the Election Commission made it clear that there was no possibility of going back to the old system, they changed their strategy and are now demanding to match of 50 per cent EVMs with VVPATs.</p>

<p>The leaders of various opposition parties earlier met in Parliament and discussed their strategy on the issue.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress after opposition leaders meet EC: We all have come here to discuss EVM and VVPAT. If it is not possible to introduce ballot papers then at least 50% of VVPAT should be counted for cross verification with EVM. <a href="https://t.co/vlMWJ4tqRQ">pic.twitter.com/vlMWJ4tqRQ</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1092424882531520512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>The delegation included Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mallikarjun Kharge, Ahmed Patel and Anand Sharma of the Congress, Chandrababu Naidu (TDP), Majid Menon (NCP), Derek O'Brien (Trinamool Congress), Ramgopal Yadav (SP), Satish Chandra Misra (BSP), Omar Abdullah (NC), Mohd Salim and T K Rangarajan (CPI-M), Manoj Jha (RJD), Sanjay Singh (AAP), D Raja (CPI), Danish Ali (JD-S), N K Premchandran (RSP), Badruddin Ajmal (AIUDF) and KG Kenye (NPF).</p>

<p>The leaders of various parties had earlier met in Constitution Club on Friday and discussed their future strategy on the issue.&nbsp;</p>


Leaders of several opposition parties approached the Election Commission on Monday and sought redressal of the issue of alleged tampering of electronic voting machines (EVMs).

Leaders of several opposition parties approached the Election Commission on Monday and sought redressal of the issue of alleged tampering of electronic voting machines (EVMs). The opposition leaders demanded the poll panel ensure that 50 per cent of EVM results are matched and cross-checked with voter-verifiable paper audit trails (VVPATs) before the declaration of results in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The leaders told the Election Commission the people of the country doubted the efficacy of EVMs and this issue needs to be redressed. Election Commission: The Commission assured the political parties that issues raised by them would be deliberated and examined. https://t.co/DLmiZHR0sI — ANI (@ANI) February 4, 2019 × The opposition delegation met the Chief Election Commissioner and other members of the panel. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, N Chandrababu Naidu after opposition leaders meet EC: To bring transparency to election process we should go back to paper ballot but due to time constraint, we are demanding that 50% of VVPATs should be counted at random & be tallied with EVMs. pic.twitter.com/tbP2AoEoNS — ANI (@ANI) February 4, 2019 × The opposition parties had earlier sought moving back to the ballot paper system, but after the Election Commission made it clear that there was no possibility of going back to the old system, they changed their strategy and are now demanding to match of 50 per cent EVMs with VVPATs. The leaders of various opposition parties earlier met in Parliament and discussed their strategy on the issue. Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress after opposition leaders meet EC: We all have come here to discuss EVM and VVPAT. If it is not possible to introduce ballot papers then at least 50% of VVPAT should be counted for cross verification with EVM. pic.twitter.com/vlMWJ4tqRQ — ANI (@ANI) February 4, 2019 × The delegation included Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mallikarjun Kharge, Ahmed Patel and Anand Sharma of the Congress, Chandrababu Naidu (TDP), Majid Menon (NCP), Derek O'Brien (Trinamool Congress), Ramgopal Yadav (SP), Satish Chandra Misra (BSP), Omar Abdullah (NC), Mohd Salim and T K Rangarajan (CPI-M), Manoj Jha (RJD), Sanjay Singh (AAP), D Raja (CPI), Danish Ali (JD-S), N K Premchandran (RSP), Badruddin Ajmal (AIUDF) and KG Kenye (NPF). The leaders of various parties had earlier met in Constitution Club on Friday and discussed their future strategy on the issue.

Opposition parties meet EC over EVM issue, demand matching of 50% of results with VVPATs

<p>For voicing their concern against the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, 22 opposition parties, including the Trinamool Congress (TMC), will visit the Election Commission on Monday.</p>

<p>Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien said all opposition parties will go to the Election Commission against the use of EVMs in order to "save constitution and federal structure."</p>

<p>"We have spoken to all opposition parties, we all will go forward. We have to save the Constitution, the country and the federal structure. Later today, all opposition parties will go to the Election Commission," the TMC leader told the&nbsp;media.</p>

<p>Earlier on Friday, opposition parties had announced that they would approach the ECI over the issue of alleged tampering of EVMs.</p>

<p>Congress president Rahul Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Samajwadi Party’s Ram Gopal Yadav, Bahujan Samaj Party’s Satish Chandra Mishra, DMK’s Kanimozhi, Trinamool Congress’ Derek O’Brien, CPI’s D Raja were among those who attended the meeting.&nbsp;</p>


For voicing their concern against the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, 22 opposition parties, including the Trinamool Congress (TMC), will visit the Election Commission on Monday.

For voicing their concern against the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, 22 opposition parties, including the Trinamool Congress (TMC), will visit the Election Commission on Monday. Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien said all opposition parties will go to the Election Commission against the use of EVMs in order to "save constitution and federal structure." "We have spoken to all opposition parties, we all will go forward. We have to save the Constitution, the country and the federal structure. Later today, all opposition parties will go to the Election Commission," the TMC leader told the media. Earlier on Friday, opposition parties had announced that they would approach the ECI over the issue of alleged tampering of EVMs. Congress president Rahul Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Samajwadi Party’s Ram Gopal Yadav, Bahujan Samaj Party’s Satish Chandra Mishra, DMK’s Kanimozhi, Trinamool Congress’ Derek O’Brien, CPI’s D Raja were among those who attended the meeting.

EVM tampering issue: TMC, 21 other opposition parties to move Election Commission

<p>Amid claims by an Indian cyber expert that electronic voting machines (EVMs) can be hacked, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad Tuesday reacted to the row. The Union Minister alleged that the Congress had organised the EVM hackathon in London in which the cyber expert claimed that the 2014 general elections were rigged.</p>

<p>The event was sponsored by the Congress, the minister of Electronics and IT said at a press conference in New Delhi today.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prasad stated that the cyber expert's claim will be exposed, adding that the Congress insulted the 2014 mandate.</p>

<p>The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/evm-hacking-claim-election-commission-asserts-foolproof-nature-of-its-machines-mulls-legal-action-191855">Election Commission of India on Monday</a> stated that it firmly stands by "empirical facts about foolproof nature" of its machines and said it is examining as to what legal action "can and should" be taken in the matter, news agency PTI reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, political leaders from across the country have reacted to the report. Andhra Pradesh chief minister <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/evm-hackathon-andhra-cm-demands-election-commission-to-revert-to-paper-ballot-system-191876">N Chandrababu Naidu</a> stated the Commission must go back to using ballot box system for the upcoming general elections.&nbsp;</p>

<p>BSP president and SP chief, Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav, also spoke in favour of a strict probe into the matter. &nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Mayawati: Keeping democracy's larger interest in view,essential to look into EVM matter so that it gets resolved soon. It's possible to validate ballot paper but it's not the case with EVM. We demand EC to hold 2019 general election using ballot paper,taking this into cognizance. <a href="https://t.co/iNSxO9CSnc">pic.twitter.com/iNSxO9CSnc</a></p>
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/1087623820939276289?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>"Keeping democracy's larger interest in view, essential to look into EVM matter so that it gets resolved soon. It's possible to validate ballot paper but it's not the case with EVM. We demand EC to hold 2019 general election using ballot paper, taking this into cognizance," Mayawati told reporters on Tuesday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"If someone has raised a question then it must be thought that what is the reason that a developed country like Japan is not using EVMs. It is not a question of a political party, it's a question of trust in democracy. EC &amp; govt should make a decision," Akhilesh Yadav noted.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Akhilesh Yadav, SP chief: If someone has raised a question then it must be thought that what is the reason that a developed country like Japan is not using EVMs. It is not a question of a political party, it's a question of trust in democracy. EC &amp; govt should make a decision. <a href="https://t.co/r5zvjDDInK">pic.twitter.com/r5zvjDDInK</a></p>
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/1087618932687757312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>An Indian cyber expert, seeking political asylum in the US, Monday claimed the 2014 general election was "rigged" through the electronic voting machines, which, he said can be hacked.</p>

<p>Addressing a press conference in London via Skype, the man, identified as Syed Shuja, said he fled India in 2014 because he felt threatened in the country after the killing of some of his team members, news agency PTI reported.&nbsp;</p>


Amid claims by an Indian cyber expert that electronic voting machines (EVMs) can be hacked, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad Tuesday reacted to the row. The Union Minister alleged that the Congress had organised the EVM hackathon in London in which the cyber expert claimed that the 2014 general elections were rigged.

Amid claims by an Indian cyber expert that electronic voting machines (EVMs) can be hacked, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad Tuesday reacted to the row. The Union Minister alleged that the Congress had organised the EVM hackathon in London in which the cyber expert claimed that the 2014 general elections were rigged. The event was sponsored by the Congress, the minister of Electronics and IT said at a press conference in New Delhi today. Prasad stated that the cyber expert's claim will be exposed, adding that the Congress insulted the 2014 mandate. The Election Commission of India on Monday stated that it firmly stands by "empirical facts about foolproof nature" of its machines and said it is examining as to what legal action "can and should" be taken in the matter, news agency PTI reported. Meanwhile, political leaders from across the country have reacted to the report. Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu stated the Commission must go back to using ballot box system for the upcoming general elections. BSP president and SP chief, Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav, also spoke in favour of a strict probe into the matter. Mayawati: Keeping democracy's larger interest in view,essential to look into EVM matter so that it gets resolved soon. It's possible to validate ballot paper but it's not the case with EVM. We demand EC to hold 2019 general election using ballot paper,taking this into cognizance. pic.twitter.com/iNSxO9CSnc — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 22, 2019 × "Keeping democracy's larger interest in view, essential to look into EVM matter so that it gets resolved soon. It's possible to validate ballot paper but it's not the case with EVM. We demand EC to hold 2019 general election using ballot paper, taking this into cognizance," Mayawati told reporters on Tuesday. "If someone has raised a question then it must be thought that what is the reason that a developed country like Japan is not using EVMs. It is not a question of a political party, it's a question of trust in democracy. EC & govt should make a decision," Akhilesh Yadav noted. Akhilesh Yadav, SP chief: If someone has raised a question then it must be thought that what is the reason that a developed country like Japan is not using EVMs. It is not a question of a political party, it's a question of trust in democracy. EC & govt should make a decision. pic.twitter.com/r5zvjDDInK — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 22, 2019 × An Indian cyber expert, seeking political asylum in the US, Monday claimed the 2014 general election was "rigged" through the electronic voting machines, which, he said can be hacked. Addressing a press conference in London via Skype, the man, identified as Syed Shuja, said he fled India in 2014 because he felt threatened in the country after the killing of some of his team members, news agency PTI reported.

EVM hacking claim: Centre alleges Congress organised hackathon in London, opposition says switch back to ballot box

<p>The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday received the panel of names for the post of the state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) from the Chief Secretary of Mizoram.</p>

<p>"Full commission comprising Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat, Election Commissioners Sunil Arora and Ashok Lavaasa will be meeting to review the names," said a poll body official.</p>

<p>Noting that the Commission will only appoint someone as CEO only if he or she is capable of conducting a 'free, fair and peaceful election', the functionary said the poll body may demand for another set of names if it has reservations.</p>

<p>"The commission will either take a call or it will seek another panel, but only after reviewing the names," he added.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, SB Shashank, the incumbent CEO will also be meeting the top poll body officials for briefing them on the status of the poll preparations in poll-bound Mizoram.</p>

<p>"The Commission will again be meeting SB Shashank to know what exactly the level is and what should be done in Mizoram because the new incumbent will have very little time to deliver polls in the hill state," said the official.</p>

<p>"It will be crucial to the know the important inputs that should be given to the new person if appointed," he added.</p>

<p>The EC had earlier sent a high-level team led by Deputy Election Commissioner Sudeep Jain to hold further talks with NGO Coordination Committee, who demanded removal of CEO Shashank.</p>

<p>The Commission will also be taking up the agreement between the ECI team and NGO Coordination Committee.</p>

<p>"In the agreement the coordination committee has agreed for conducting polling for Bru voters at convenient place in Mizoram and not outside the state," said a source.</p>

<p>"The agreement further states that CEO SB Shashank has lost the confidence of the civil society, so he should be changed," he added.</p>

<p>The senior poll official reiterated that it holds Mizo people in high regards and hopes that the election will be peacefully conducted in the hill state.</p>


The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday received the panel of names for the post of the state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) from the Chief Secretary of Mizoram.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday received the panel of names for the post of the state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) from the Chief Secretary of Mizoram. "Full commission comprising Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat, Election Commissioners Sunil Arora and Ashok Lavaasa will be meeting to review the names," said a poll body official. Noting that the Commission will only appoint someone as CEO only if he or she is capable of conducting a 'free, fair and peaceful election', the functionary said the poll body may demand for another set of names if it has reservations. "The commission will either take a call or it will seek another panel, but only after reviewing the names," he added. Meanwhile, SB Shashank, the incumbent CEO will also be meeting the top poll body officials for briefing them on the status of the poll preparations in poll-bound Mizoram. "The Commission will again be meeting SB Shashank to know what exactly the level is and what should be done in Mizoram because the new incumbent will have very little time to deliver polls in the hill state," said the official. "It will be crucial to the know the important inputs that should be given to the new person if appointed," he added. The EC had earlier sent a high-level team led by Deputy Election Commissioner Sudeep Jain to hold further talks with NGO Coordination Committee, who demanded removal of CEO Shashank. The Commission will also be taking up the agreement between the ECI team and NGO Coordination Committee. "In the agreement the coordination committee has agreed for conducting polling for Bru voters at convenient place in Mizoram and not outside the state," said a source. "The agreement further states that CEO SB Shashank has lost the confidence of the civil society, so he should be changed," he added. The senior poll official reiterated that it holds Mizo people in high regards and hopes that the election will be peacefully conducted in the hill state.

Mizoram: Election Commission to review panel names received for CEO

<p>Seven sitting parliamentarians and 199 MLAs in the country have not declared their PAN details which is needed in filing nomination papers for elections, a report said Friday.</p>

<p>The report prepared after analysis of permanent account number(PAN) details of 542 Lok Sabha MPs and 4,086 MLAs has been brought out by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and the National Election Watch (NEW).</p>

<p>Details of PAN are to be furnished before returning officers by candidates contesting elections for parliament and state legislative bodies, in affidavits along with their nomination papers.</p>

<p>"The highest number of MLAs (51) who have not declared PAN details are from Congress followed by 42 BJP MLAs, 25 CPI(M) MLAs. Statewise, the highest number (33) was from Kerala, followed by Mizoram (28) and Madhya Pradesh (19)," said a statement from ADR.</p>

<p>Interestingly, Mizoram state Assembly has a strength of 40 MLAs out of which 28 did not give details of their PAN.</p>

<p>In case of MPs, two each from Odisha (both from BJD) and Tamil Nadu (both AIDMK), and one each from Assam, Mizoram and Lakshadweep have not declared their PAN details. One MP each from Congress, AIUDF and NCP have also not declared their PAN details, said the report.</p>

<p>The highest number of reelected MLAs (18) whose PAN details had discrepancy belonged to the BJP followed by nine from the Congress and three from the JD(U),</p>

<p>Four reelected MPs from the BJD, two reelected MPs each from the BJP and the Congress, and one reelected MP each of the NCP and JD(S) have discrepancy in their PAN details, the report said.</p>


Seven sitting parliamentarians and 199 MLAs in the country have not declared their PAN details which is needed in filing nomination papers for elections, a report said Friday.

Seven sitting parliamentarians and 199 MLAs in the country have not declared their PAN details which is needed in filing nomination papers for elections, a report said Friday. The report prepared after analysis of permanent account number(PAN) details of 542 Lok Sabha MPs and 4,086 MLAs has been brought out by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and the National Election Watch (NEW). Details of PAN are to be furnished before returning officers by candidates contesting elections for parliament and state legislative bodies, in affidavits along with their nomination papers. "The highest number of MLAs (51) who have not declared PAN details are from Congress followed by 42 BJP MLAs, 25 CPI(M) MLAs. Statewise, the highest number (33) was from Kerala, followed by Mizoram (28) and Madhya Pradesh (19)," said a statement from ADR. Interestingly, Mizoram state Assembly has a strength of 40 MLAs out of which 28 did not give details of their PAN. In case of MPs, two each from Odisha (both from BJD) and Tamil Nadu (both AIDMK), and one each from Assam, Mizoram and Lakshadweep have not declared their PAN details. One MP each from Congress, AIUDF and NCP have also not declared their PAN details, said the report. The highest number of reelected MLAs (18) whose PAN details had discrepancy belonged to the BJP followed by nine from the Congress and three from the JD(U), Four reelected MPs from the BJD, two reelected MPs each from the BJP and the Congress, and one reelected MP each of the NCP and JD(S) have discrepancy in their PAN details, the report said.

7 lawmakers, 199 legislators have not declared PAN details: Report

<p>The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to pass any interim order on staying the Centre&#39;s notification disqualifying 20 AAP MLAs in &#39;Office of Profit&#39; case.</p>

<p>The court also asked the Election Commission not to make any announcement regarding bypolls in Delhi until January 29, the next date of hearing in the case.</p>

<p>The Arvind Kejriwal-led party had on Tuesday approached the Delhi High Court seeking to quash the disqualification of its MLAs accused of holding the &lsquo;office of profit&rsquo;.</p>

<p>Earlier, on January 19, the poll panel had made the recommendation for the disqualification of the 20 legislators, which was given assent by the President.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On January 20, the Ministry of Law and Justice issued a notification that the President held that the 20 MLAs stand disqualified under Section 15(1)(a) of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) Act.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The EC had made the recommendation while deciding a plea by advocate Prashant Patel, who had sought disqualification of 21 AAP MLAs for holding the office of parliamentary secretaries, which he had said amounted to the office of profit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The proceedings against Jarnail Singh were dropped after he resigned as the Rajouri Garden MLA to contest the Punjab Assembly polls.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Senior AAP leader Raghav Chadha said that the Election Commission is acting on behalf of the BJP in a blatant misuse of power.</p>

<p>They say that the Election Commission ignored the legislators&#39; right and request to present their cases. The Election Commission, on the other hand, says that AAP skipped several chances to defend itself.</p>

<p>The party insists that its legislators drew no salary or perks as parliamentary secretaries and so there is no question of their having held offices of profit.</p>

<p>Addressing a press conference senior AAP leader Raghav Chadha said that AAP MLAs have presented their points in court that how this one-sided and illegal decision has taken.</p>

<p>High court reviewed it and issued a notice to EC and Indian government also restricted EC to impose any kind of by election or election on Delhi people.</p>


HC today refused to pass any interim order on staying the Centre's notification disqualifying 20 AAP MLAs for holding offices of profit

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to pass any interim order on staying the Centre's notification disqualifying 20 AAP MLAs in 'Office of Profit' case. The court also asked the Election Commission not to make any announcement regarding bypolls in Delhi until January 29, the next date of hearing in the case. The Arvind Kejriwal-led party had on Tuesday approached the Delhi High Court seeking to quash the disqualification of its MLAs accused of holding the ‘office of profit’. Earlier, on January 19, the poll panel had made the recommendation for the disqualification of the 20 legislators, which was given assent by the President. On January 20, the Ministry of Law and Justice issued a notification that the President held that the 20 MLAs stand disqualified under Section 15(1)(a) of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) Act. The EC had made the recommendation while deciding a plea by advocate Prashant Patel, who had sought disqualification of 21 AAP MLAs for holding the office of parliamentary secretaries, which he had said amounted to the office of profit. The proceedings against Jarnail Singh were dropped after he resigned as the Rajouri Garden MLA to contest the Punjab Assembly polls. Meanwhile, Senior AAP leader Raghav Chadha said that the Election Commission is acting on behalf of the BJP in a blatant misuse of power. They say that the Election Commission ignored the legislators' right and request to present their cases. The Election Commission, on the other hand, says that AAP skipped several chances to defend itself. The party insists that its legislators drew no salary or perks as parliamentary secretaries and so there is no question of their having held offices of profit. Addressing a press conference senior AAP leader Raghav Chadha said that AAP MLAs have presented their points in court that how this one-sided and illegal decision has taken. High court reviewed it and issued a notice to EC and Indian government also restricted EC to impose any kind of by election or election on Delhi people.

Office of profit: Delhi High Court asks Election Commission not to make bypoll announcement until January 29

<p>The Election Commission of India (ECI) is expected to announce the polling date for Assembly elections in Meghalaya, Tripura and Nagaland in the national capital on Thursday.</p>

<p>The Legislative Assembly elections 2018 in Tripura, Meghalaya, and Nagaland will be held in a single phase.</p>

<p>The polling in all the three states is likely to be held in February.</p>


The polling in all the three states is likely to be held in February.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is expected to announce the polling date for Assembly elections in Meghalaya, Tripura and Nagaland in the national capital on Thursday. The Legislative Assembly elections 2018 in Tripura, Meghalaya, and Nagaland will be held in a single phase. The polling in all the three states is likely to be held in February.

Election commission to announce dates for Meghalaya, Tripura, Nagaland polls today

<p>The Election Commission on Saturday said repolling will be conducted at six polling stations in Vadgam, Viramgam, Daskroi and Savli areas of Gujarat tomorrow.</p>

<p>Elections were held in these six polling stations in the second phase of Gujarat Assembly polls on December 14.</p>

<p>Apart from this, counting of votes will be done through counting of slips in VVPAT in 10 polling stations in Visnagar, Becharaji, Modasa, Vejalpur, Vatva, Jamalpur-Khadia, Savli and Sankheda as the presiding officers did not clear from the control unit the votes that were cast during mock poll, the poll commission added.The results of the Gujarat Assembly election will be announced on December 18.&nbsp;</p>


Elections were held in these six polling stations in the second phase of Gujarat Assembly polls on December 14

The Election Commission on Saturday said repolling will be conducted at six polling stations in Vadgam, Viramgam, Daskroi and Savli areas of Gujarat tomorrow. Elections were held in these six polling stations in the second phase of Gujarat Assembly polls on December 14. Apart from this, counting of votes will be done through counting of slips in VVPAT in 10 polling stations in Visnagar, Becharaji, Modasa, Vejalpur, Vatva, Jamalpur-Khadia, Savli and Sankheda as the presiding officers did not clear from the control unit the votes that were cast during mock poll, the poll commission added.The results of the Gujarat Assembly election will be announced on December 18.

Gujarat assembly elections: Election Commission orders repolling in 6 booths

<p>In a major set back to the Congress party, the Supreme Court on Friday dismissed their plea seeking directions to the Election Commission to count and cross verify at least 25 per cent of paper trails generated by the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines with the actual vote tally in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">SC dismisses Congress&#39; plea seeking directions to EC to count &amp; cross verify at least 25% of VVPAT paper trail with EVM votes. <a href="https://t.co/uabJs37oJ5">pic.twitter.com/uabJs37oJ5</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/941600200316960768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Just three days prior to the counting of votes for held Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh assembly elections, the Congress party had today approached the apex court demanding cross-verification.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Senior lawyers and Congress leaders Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Kapil Sibal had appeared for the Congress in this regard.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Congress moves Supreme Court seeking directions to the Election Commission of India to count and cross verify at least 25% of the VVPAT paper trail with the EVM votes. Abhishek Manu Singhvi &amp; Kapil Sibal to appear for Congress, matter likely to be heard today.</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/941587454355677185?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p><br />
The plea was submitted just a day after the second and final phase of polling concluded in the Gujarat assembly polls.</p>

<p>This year in July, the EC had made it mandatory to verify the paper trail slips with the results of EVMs in 5 per cent of polling stations in each assembly seat, for all state and Lok Sabha elections.</p>

<p>VVPAT machines were inducted to generate a printed slip confirming the voter&#39;s choice when he voted on an EVM.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


The plea was submitted just a day after the second and final phase of polling concluded in Gujarat assembly polls.

In a major set back to the Congress party, the Supreme Court on Friday dismissed their plea seeking directions to the Election Commission to count and cross verify at least 25 per cent of paper trails generated by the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines with the actual vote tally in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). SC dismisses Congress' plea seeking directions to EC to count & cross verify at least 25% of VVPAT paper trail with EVM votes. pic.twitter.com/uabJs37oJ5 — ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2017 × Just three days prior to the counting of votes for held Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh assembly elections, the Congress party had today approached the apex court demanding cross-verification. Senior lawyers and Congress leaders Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Kapil Sibal had appeared for the Congress in this regard. Congress moves Supreme Court seeking directions to the Election Commission of India to count and cross verify at least 25% of the VVPAT paper trail with the EVM votes. Abhishek Manu Singhvi & Kapil Sibal to appear for Congress, matter likely to be heard today. — ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2017 × The plea was submitted just a day after the second and final phase of polling concluded in the Gujarat assembly polls. This year in July, the EC had made it mandatory to verify the paper trail slips with the results of EVMs in 5 per cent of polling stations in each assembly seat, for all state and Lok Sabha elections. VVPAT machines were inducted to generate a printed slip confirming the voter's choice when he voted on an EVM.

Congress approaches SC seeking cross verification of at least 25% VVPAT slips, plea dismissed

<p>101-year-old Shyam Saran Negi,&nbsp;believed to be the oldest and the first voter of independent India, exercised his franchise today during the voting in the&nbsp;hill state of Himachal Pradesh. The government had made&nbsp;special arrangement for Negi&nbsp;at Kalpa polling booth in tribal Kinnaur constituency.</p>

<p>People who came out to vote waited anxiously for Negi to arrive at the polling booth. It was a morning as unual for Negi as he got ready to cast his vote.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">India&#39;s first voter Shyam Saran Negi saying his daily prayers as he gets ready to vote one more time <a href="https://twitter.com/wion?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wion</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/dna?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dna</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hpelection?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@hpelection</a> <a href="https://t.co/s2iYYlMmY3">pic.twitter.com/s2iYYlMmY3</a></p>
&mdash; Raghvendra Rao (@raghvendra_rao) <a href="https://twitter.com/raghvendra_rao/status/928479463297314816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Negi, a retired schoolteacher, was born in July 1917 and has never missed an opportunity to cast his vote.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">India&#39;s first voter Sh Shyam Saran Negi has voted, yet again. The 100-year old has never missed an opportunity to vote <a href="https://t.co/kuLDZmYPh6">pic.twitter.com/kuLDZmYPh6</a></p>
&mdash; Raghvendra Rao (@raghvendra_rao) <a href="https://twitter.com/raghvendra_rao/status/928503762062262272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>He&nbsp;voted&nbsp;in the independent&nbsp;India&#39;s first ever election held in 1951 at a polling station in Kinnaur.</p>

<p>Though the election took place in February 1952, residents of Himachal Pradesh voted five months early&nbsp;to avoid the difficulty of voting&nbsp;during&nbsp;snow fall.</p>

<p>Negi says that he has voted in every election that&nbsp;held in the country since 1951.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He was honoured with an invitation&nbsp;to be a part of the Election Commission diamond jubilee celebrations in 2010.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In 2014, he talked about his experience of the first election&nbsp;in the Google India&#39;s public service announcement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile,&nbsp;at the age of 83,<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/himachal-election-virbhadra-singh-is-oldest-cm-looking-for-7th-term-23799" target="_blank"> Virbhadra Singh</a>, India&#39;s oldest chief minister&nbsp;is heading to contest his seventh&nbsp;term election.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


101-year-old Shyam Saran Negi,?believed to be the oldest and the first voter of independent India, exercised his franchise today during the voting in the?hill state of Himachal Pradesh. The government had made special arrangement for Negi?at Kalpa polling booth in tribal Kinnaur constituency.

101-year-old Shyam Saran Negi, believed to be the oldest and the first voter of independent India, exercised his franchise today during the voting in the hill state of Himachal Pradesh. The government had made special arrangement for Negi at Kalpa polling booth in tribal Kinnaur constituency. People who came out to vote waited anxiously for Negi to arrive at the polling booth. It was a morning as unual for Negi as he got ready to cast his vote. India's first voter Shyam Saran Negi saying his daily prayers as he gets ready to vote one more time @wion @dna @hpelection pic.twitter.com/s2iYYlMmY3 — Raghvendra Rao (@raghvendra_rao) November 9, 2017 × Negi, a retired schoolteacher, was born in July 1917 and has never missed an opportunity to cast his vote. India's first voter Sh Shyam Saran Negi has voted, yet again. The 100-year old has never missed an opportunity to vote pic.twitter.com/kuLDZmYPh6 — Raghvendra Rao (@raghvendra_rao) November 9, 2017 × He voted in the independent India's first ever election held in 1951 at a polling station in Kinnaur. Though the election took place in February 1952, residents of Himachal Pradesh voted five months early to avoid the difficulty of voting during snow fall. Negi says that he has voted in every election that held in the country since 1951. He was honoured with an invitation to be a part of the Election Commission diamond jubilee celebrations in 2010. In 2014, he talked about his experience of the first election in the Google India's public service announcement. Meanwhile, at the age of 83, Virbhadra Singh, India's oldest chief minister is heading to contest his seventh term election.

Himachal election: India's oldest voter Shyam Saran Negi proudly shows his inked finger

<p>&nbsp;Th<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/vvpats-to-be-used-in-all-future-elections-indias-election-commission-15508">e Election Commission of India(ECI) </a>had told&nbsp;the Supreme Court that convicted MPs and MLAs should be banned from contesting elections.</p>

<p>The Election Commission <a href="http://www.wionews.com/science-tech/explained-why-election-commission-believes-evms-in-india-are-hack-proof-14490">said that it had written to the government to amend</a> the law in this regard.</p>

<p>However, the government differed from Election Commission, insisting before the top court that a 6 year-disqualification served the purpose.</p>

<p>In July, India&#39;s top court had rapped the ECI for not taking a clear stand on a plea seeking barring convicted politicians for life, declaring that the election body could not remain silent on the matter.</p>

<p>&ldquo;Is silence an option for you (ECI)? You must say either &lsquo;yes&rsquo; or &lsquo;no&rsquo; on whether you are supporting the petitioner. You are the ECI and here is a citizen of India who has come here to seek lifetime debarment of convicted persons. Can you say I will be silent? No, you cannot,&rdquo; the bench had said.</p>

<p>&ldquo;If you (ECI) feel constrained by the legislature, then let us know. If you are even constrained to the extent of giving your view, feel free and say so clearly,&rdquo; it said.</p>

<p>The Centre, in its affidavit, had said the prayer sought by the petitioner seeking lifetime bar on convicted lawmakers was not maintainable and the plea should be dismissed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the ECI affidavit said it was in favour of setting up special courts to decide the criminal cases related to people&rsquo;s representatives, public servants and members of the judiciary, in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution.</p>

<p>The affidavit was filed in response to a PIL which is also seeking setting up special courts for trial of criminal cases against people from the legislature, executive and judiciary.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The poll panel had said the issues raised by the petitioner were &ldquo;not adversarial&rdquo;.</p>


The Election Commission said that it had written to the government to amend the law in this regard

The Election Commission of India(ECI) had told the Supreme Court that convicted MPs and MLAs should be banned from contesting elections. The Election Commission said that it had written to the government to amend the law in this regard. However, the government differed from Election Commission, insisting before the top court that a 6 year-disqualification served the purpose. In July, India's top court had rapped the ECI for not taking a clear stand on a plea seeking barring convicted politicians for life, declaring that the election body could not remain silent on the matter. “Is silence an option for you (ECI)? You must say either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on whether you are supporting the petitioner. You are the ECI and here is a citizen of India who has come here to seek lifetime debarment of convicted persons. Can you say I will be silent? No, you cannot,” the bench had said. “If you (ECI) feel constrained by the legislature, then let us know. If you are even constrained to the extent of giving your view, feel free and say so clearly,” it said. The Centre, in its affidavit, had said the prayer sought by the petitioner seeking lifetime bar on convicted lawmakers was not maintainable and the plea should be dismissed. However, the ECI affidavit said it was in favour of setting up special courts to decide the criminal cases related to people’s representatives, public servants and members of the judiciary, in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution. The affidavit was filed in response to a PIL which is also seeking setting up special courts for trial of criminal cases against people from the legislature, executive and judiciary. The poll panel had said the issues raised by the petitioner were “not adversarial”.

Life ban for convicted MPs, MLAs: Election Commission to Supreme Court

<p>The Election Commission of India has directed the Tamil Nadu Police to file an FIR against the AIADMK leadersT T V Dinakaran, Tamil Nadu chief minister Palanisamy, Vijayabhaskar, Sellur K. Raju, Thangamani, Sengotaiyan and Velumani in RK Nagar by-poll bribery case.</p>

<p>The Election Commission in a statement said that it had received a report from the Income Tax department regarding the search and seizure of certain documents indicating large scale distribution of money to bribe voters to influence the by-polls in RK Nagar Assembly Constituency which is an offence under Section 171B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).</p>

<p>The Commission has demanded a quick and appropriate action in the matter.</p>

<p>The police had also arrested Sukesh Chandrashekhar, the middleman alleged of striking a deal of Rs. 50 crore to help the AIADMK faction keep the &#39;two leaves&#39; poll symbol.</p>

<p>The development came after the Delhi Police Crime Branch recovered approximately Rs. 1.3 crore and two luxury cars, a BMW and a Mercedes, from Chandrashekhar.</p>

<p>Dinakaran&#39;s faction contested on the hat symbol for the R.K. Nagar assembly by-polls after the Election Commission froze their &#39;two leaves&#39; symbol acknowledging the split in the party.</p>

<p>The April 12 by-polls were cancelled by the ECI after the Income Tax officials alleged that the Sasikala faction paid Rs. 89 crore to voters to buy support for its candidate Dinakaran.</p>

<p>(ANI)</p>


The police had also arrested Sukesh Chandrashekhar, the middleman alleged of striking a deal of Rs 50 crore to help the AIADMK faction keep the 'two leaves' poll symbol

The Election Commission of India has directed the Tamil Nadu Police to file an FIR against the AIADMK leadersT T V Dinakaran, Tamil Nadu chief minister Palanisamy, Vijayabhaskar, Sellur K. Raju, Thangamani, Sengotaiyan and Velumani in RK Nagar by-poll bribery case. The Election Commission in a statement said that it had received a report from the Income Tax department regarding the search and seizure of certain documents indicating large scale distribution of money to bribe voters to influence the by-polls in RK Nagar Assembly Constituency which is an offence under Section 171B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The Commission has demanded a quick and appropriate action in the matter. The police had also arrested Sukesh Chandrashekhar, the middleman alleged of striking a deal of Rs. 50 crore to help the AIADMK faction keep the 'two leaves' poll symbol. The development came after the Delhi Police Crime Branch recovered approximately Rs. 1.3 crore and two luxury cars, a BMW and a Mercedes, from Chandrashekhar. Dinakaran's faction contested on the hat symbol for the R.K. Nagar assembly by-polls after the Election Commission froze their 'two leaves' symbol acknowledging the split in the party. The April 12 by-polls were cancelled by the ECI after the Income Tax officials alleged that the Sasikala faction paid Rs. 89 crore to voters to buy support for its candidate Dinakaran. (ANI)

EC orders FIR against Tamil Nadu CM, Dinakaran in bypoll bribery case

<p>The Election Commission Tuesday rejected the claim of the Aam Aadmi Party -- that its EVMs can be hacked, saying the machine hacked in the Delhi assembly was a &quot;lookalike&quot; gadget and not actual equipment used by it.</p>

<p>&quot;It is common sense that gadgets other than ECI-EVMs can be programmed to perform in a pre-determined way, but it simply cannot be implied that ECI-EVMs will behave in the same manner because they are technically secured and function under an elaborate administrative and security protocol,&quot; the Commission said in a statement. The &quot;so-called&quot; demonstration on &quot;extraneous and duplicate gadgets&quot; which are not owned by the EC &quot;cannot be exploited to influence our intelligent citizens and electorate to assail or vilify the EVMs used by the Commission in its electoral process, it added.</p>

<p>Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today dared the Election Commission to provide an EVM (used by the Election Commission) to the AAP, claiming it can be tampered with in 90 seconds flat. During a day-long special sitting of the Delhi Assembly today, AAP MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj put on a &quot;live demonstration&quot; on how electronic voting machines can be programmed to favour a particular political party.</p>

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<h5>The election commission can give us its machines, we will show how to hack it in 90 seconds by merely changing its motherboard,&#39; Kejriwal told reporters</h5>
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<p>&quot;He (Bhardwaj) showed how easy it is to hack EVMs and it is being done on a massive scale. It is dangerous for the democracy and the country, and people should raise their voice against it. &quot;The ECI can give us its machines, we will show how to hack it in 90 seconds by merely changing its motherboard,&quot; Kejriwal told reporters outside the assembly. Bhardwaj claimed that a voting machine can be manipulated by simply feeding it with a &quot;secret code&quot;.</p>

<p>The AAP today &quot;demonstrated&quot; ways to &quot;rig EVMs&quot; in the Delhi Assembly, which the BJP said was an attempt to divert attention from charges of &quot;bribery&quot; against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.</p>

<p>The AAP&#39;s attempt to whip up the issue comes at a time the party is in the eye of a political firestorm over its sacked minister Kapil Mishra&#39;s allegations of corruption against Kejriwal and minister Satyendar Jain. On his part, Mishra, who was suspended from AAP&#39;s primary membership yesterday, mocked it saying the party should stop living in &quot;denial&quot; and accept the fact that people do not vote for Kejriwal anymore.</p>

<p>Participating in a discussion on the issue during the day-long special session of the Delhi Assembly, AAP MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj claimed that a voting machine can be manipulated by simply feeding it with a &quot;secret code&quot;. He demonstrated how it can be done using, what party sources said was, a &quot;prototype EVM&quot; developed by a &quot;a group of IITians&quot;.</p>

<p>Interestingly, leaders of the Congress, the Trinamool Congress, the Janata Dal (United) and the Rastriya Janata Dal were present on the gallery of the House when Bhardwaj staged the demonstration. Before Bhardwaj&#39;s demonstration, Kejriwal tweeted, &quot;Saurabh Bhardwaj will reveal the truth behind a big conspiracy in the country. Satyameva Jayate&quot;. Bhardwaj, who represents the Greater Kailash constituency, claimed that in his capacity as an engineer, he had extensively worked in this area and was aware of how the machines can be fiddled with.</p>

<p>After entering a &quot;secret code&quot;, Bhardwaj pressed 10 votes for the AAP in the machine used for the purpose of demonstration. Later, in the display panel, it turned out that the votes went to the BJP. &quot;We are not making baseless allegations on EVM manipulation. With this demonstration, it has been proved that EVMs can actually be hacked,&quot; Bhardwaj said.</p>

<p>&quot;EVM manipulation is a very serious issue. It is a danger to the democracy of the country. There is no machine in the world which cannot be hacked,&quot; the AAP MLA claimed. Kejriwal has repeatedly claimed that the AAP&#39;s poll debacles have something to do with tampering of EVMs. The issue threatened to split the party with a section refusing to toe the line taken by him.</p>

<p>(PTI)</p>


AAP MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj had 'demonstrated' on Tuesday that an EVM can be hacked in 90 seconds

The Election Commission Tuesday rejected the claim of the Aam Aadmi Party -- that its EVMs can be hacked, saying the machine hacked in the Delhi assembly was a "lookalike" gadget and not actual equipment used by it. "It is common sense that gadgets other than ECI-EVMs can be programmed to perform in a pre-determined way, but it simply cannot be implied that ECI-EVMs will behave in the same manner because they are technically secured and function under an elaborate administrative and security protocol," the Commission said in a statement. The "so-called" demonstration on "extraneous and duplicate gadgets" which are not owned by the EC "cannot be exploited to influence our intelligent citizens and electorate to assail or vilify the EVMs used by the Commission in its electoral process, it added. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today dared the Election Commission to provide an EVM (used by the Election Commission) to the AAP, claiming it can be tampered with in 90 seconds flat. During a day-long special sitting of the Delhi Assembly today, AAP MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj put on a "live demonstration" on how electronic voting machines can be programmed to favour a particular political party. The election commission can give us its machines, we will show how to hack it in 90 seconds by merely changing its motherboard,' Kejriwal told reporters × "He (Bhardwaj) showed how easy it is to hack EVMs and it is being done on a massive scale. It is dangerous for the democracy and the country, and people should raise their voice against it. "The ECI can give us its machines, we will show how to hack it in 90 seconds by merely changing its motherboard," Kejriwal told reporters outside the assembly. Bhardwaj claimed that a voting machine can be manipulated by simply feeding it with a "secret code". The AAP today "demonstrated" ways to "rig EVMs" in the Delhi Assembly, which the BJP said was an attempt to divert attention from charges of "bribery" against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The AAP's attempt to whip up the issue comes at a time the party is in the eye of a political firestorm over its sacked minister Kapil Mishra's allegations of corruption against Kejriwal and minister Satyendar Jain. On his part, Mishra, who was suspended from AAP's primary membership yesterday, mocked it saying the party should stop living in "denial" and accept the fact that people do not vote for Kejriwal anymore. Participating in a discussion on the issue during the day-long special session of the Delhi Assembly, AAP MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj claimed that a voting machine can be manipulated by simply feeding it with a "secret code". He demonstrated how it can be done using, what party sources said was, a "prototype EVM" developed by a "a group of IITians". Interestingly, leaders of the Congress, the Trinamool Congress, the Janata Dal (United) and the Rastriya Janata Dal were present on the gallery of the House when Bhardwaj staged the demonstration. Before Bhardwaj's demonstration, Kejriwal tweeted, "Saurabh Bhardwaj will reveal the truth behind a big conspiracy in the country. Satyameva Jayate". Bhardwaj, who represents the Greater Kailash constituency, claimed that in his capacity as an engineer, he had extensively worked in this area and was aware of how the machines can be fiddled with. After entering a "secret code", Bhardwaj pressed 10 votes for the AAP in the machine used for the purpose of demonstration. Later, in the display panel, it turned out that the votes went to the BJP. "We are not making baseless allegations on EVM manipulation. With this demonstration, it has been proved that EVMs can actually be hacked," Bhardwaj said. "EVM manipulation is a very serious issue. It is a danger to the democracy of the country. There is no machine in the world which cannot be hacked," the AAP MLA claimed. Kejriwal has repeatedly claimed that the AAP's poll debacles have something to do with tampering of EVMs. The issue threatened to split the party with a section refusing to toe the line taken by him. (PTI)

Give me one of yours, says Kejriwal, after EC says AAP hacked 'lookalike' EVM

<p>The Election Commission has cancelled the by-elections in Chennai&#39;s RK Nagar constituency, a day after cash-for-votes allegations surfaced.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">EC cancels RK Nagar bypoll in Chennai and rescinds notification. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TamilNadu?src=hash">#TamilNadu</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/851144063755591680">April 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The elections were earlier scheduled to be held on Wednesday. The Election Commission said that the bye-elections shall be held by the poll panel in due course when the vitiating effect created by the distribution of money and gift items to allure the electors, as mentioned above, gets removed with the passage of time and the atmosphere in the constituency becomes conducive to the holding of free and fair election.</p>

<p>The decision came after Income Tax raids in Chennai found money was distributed to voters. The by-elections in RK Nagar became necessary after the death of former chief minister J&nbsp;Jayalalithaa, who represented it for two terms.</p>

<p>The stakes for the by-polls were very high as the results would have been a verdict of sorts in the war between the two rival factions of the ruling AIADMK. Fresh clashes had broken out yesterday between the supporters of O&nbsp;Panneerselvam (OPS) and TTV Dinakaran, in which one person sustained injuries.</p>

<p>An OPS faction candidate was attacked by a Dinakaran camp supporter. However, no key leaders were on the spot and the situation was contained immediately by security personnel.</p>

<p>On April 7, several people got injured after a clash broke out between the members of Sasikala and O&nbsp;Pannerselvam factions of AIADMK in RK Nagar area, where by-polls are set to be held on April 12th. During the clash, E&nbsp;Madhusudhanan&#39;s car, a member of &nbsp;the Pannerselvam camp, was also damaged.</p>

<p>The AIADMK party, which is now divided into two groups, has been witnessing political turmoil after the demise of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa.</p>

<p>Earlier, both the factions also staked claim over the election symbol &quot;two leaves,&quot;&nbsp;where Sasikala camp moved the Election Commission challenging the use of party symbol by the Panneerselvam-led camp. However, the Election Commission froze the election symbol and alloted two new symbols to both the factions.</p>

<p>&quot;Neither of the two groups shall be permitted to use the &#39;Two Leaves&#39;&nbsp;symbol of the AIADMK,&quot; the Election Commission stated.&nbsp;</p>

<p>(ANI)&nbsp;</p>


The decision came after Income Tax raids in Chennai found money was distributed to voters

The Election Commission has cancelled the by-elections in Chennai's RK Nagar constituency, a day after cash-for-votes allegations surfaced. EC cancels RK Nagar bypoll in Chennai and rescinds notification. #TamilNadu — ANI (@ANI_news) April 9, 2017 × The elections were earlier scheduled to be held on Wednesday. The Election Commission said that the bye-elections shall be held by the poll panel in due course when the vitiating effect created by the distribution of money and gift items to allure the electors, as mentioned above, gets removed with the passage of time and the atmosphere in the constituency becomes conducive to the holding of free and fair election. The decision came after Income Tax raids in Chennai found money was distributed to voters. The by-elections in RK Nagar became necessary after the death of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa, who represented it for two terms. The stakes for the by-polls were very high as the results would have been a verdict of sorts in the war between the two rival factions of the ruling AIADMK. Fresh clashes had broken out yesterday between the supporters of O Panneerselvam (OPS) and TTV Dinakaran, in which one person sustained injuries. An OPS faction candidate was attacked by a Dinakaran camp supporter. However, no key leaders were on the spot and the situation was contained immediately by security personnel. On April 7, several people got injured after a clash broke out between the members of Sasikala and O Pannerselvam factions of AIADMK in RK Nagar area, where by-polls are set to be held on April 12th. During the clash, E Madhusudhanan's car, a member of the Pannerselvam camp, was also damaged. The AIADMK party, which is now divided into two groups, has been witnessing political turmoil after the demise of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa. Earlier, both the factions also staked claim over the election symbol "two leaves," where Sasikala camp moved the Election Commission challenging the use of party symbol by the Panneerselvam-led camp. However, the Election Commission froze the election symbol and alloted two new symbols to both the factions. "Neither of the two groups shall be permitted to use the 'Two Leaves' symbol of the AIADMK," the Election Commission stated. (ANI)

India: Election Commission cancels RK Nagar bypolls in Chennai

<p>By Anuradha Mukherjee</p>

<p>Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav&#39;s fondness for bicycles is well-known, so the Election Commission of India&#39;s decision to grant the election symbol to the Samajwadi Party (SP) faction led by him must feel like a sweet gift.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But politicians aligned to the faction led by his father, Mulayam Singh Yadav, assert that this is not the end of the battle and that the two factions may ultimately fight it out in the UP polls.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
&quot;Now everything, including a joint existence of the two factions in SP, may depend on the Uttar Pradesh polls. If the bicycle symbol were not given to Akhilesh, or if it was frozen, Mulayam Singh would have fielded parallel candidates on all 403 assembly seats, but not now,&quot; an SP politician from the Mulayam faction told WION from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh&#39;s capital.&nbsp;</p>

<p>What also looks quite possible now is the much-discussed coalition with the Congress party which is expected to get 89-100 seats in the alliance.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While Akhilesh supporters were clearly happy, but guarded in their response, the gloom in Mulayam&#39;s camp was but palpable.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In fact, soon after the victory, Akhilesh rushed to call on his father, Mulayam, in what is being seen as an assertion of his personal relationship with the veteran politician.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Mulayam&#39;s supporters were mostly tight-lipped and said they would be able to respond to the development only once the party members discuss matters tomorrow.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, a politician close to the Mulayam camp said any decision of forging a truce would depend on Netaji &quot;or the leader&quot; as the veteran politician is fondly called.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Whether the two groups decide to solve their differences will depend on Netaji. People who are being called &#39;anti-Akhilesh&#39; today are those who followed Netaji. Now if Akhilesh goes into a coalition with Congress party, where will the sitting legislators of SP go? Then Mulayam Singh ji will field those MLAs (members of legislative assembly) from those seats against the Congress,&quot; said the SP politician from Mulayam&#39;s faction. &nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;When these sitting SP MLAs are denied tickets from seats that are allotted to Congress, they will definitely present their grievance in front of Mulayam Singh. He will then tell them to contest the polls with his photograph on their posters or on the ticket of his old party, Lok Dal, on the symbol of kisan (farmer). Lok Dal leader Sunil Singh has already offered its national president&#39;s position to Mulayam ji and has been quite critical of Akhilesh,&quot; he added. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The coalition with the Congress party was also a sore point between the father-son combine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Congress politician Kapil Sibal represented Akhilesh Yadav&#39;s group in the EC in the election symbol case.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Given the overwhelming support received by Akhilesh&#39;s group, EC gave its decision,&quot; Kapil Sibal, Akhilesh Yadav&#39;s lawyer told the media on Monday. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit, who was being touted as the Congress face in the state, had also announced her endorsement of Akhilesh for sometime now.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&ldquo;I am ready to step away if the Congress decides to go into an alliance with Akhilesh Yadav,&rdquo; Dikshit said. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The two warring arms of the Yadav clan that controls Samajwadi Party, in power in India&#39;s most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, took their claim to the EC after son Akhilesh and father Mulayam Singh Yadav declared their own lists of candidates for the upcoming assembly polls.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Akhilesh declared majority support among his sitting legislators, something he was able to prove in ECI through affidavits submitted, and literally wrested control of the party from his father who founded it, using state police to seize control of the party headquarters in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh&#39;s capital.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the Akhilesh camp expressed hope of a reunion of the father and son duo. &quot;The party is united and is with Akhilesh Yadav. It was clear in the meeting of party workers that was held recently,&quot; said Rajan Chaudhary of SP, also a state minister. Asked if he saw the ECI decision changing things for his party that looked headed for a split, he hoped: &quot;The difficult situation that had arisen will change. And Mulayam Singh ji is a large-hearted person. He will come around.&quot; &nbsp;</p>

<p>(WION)</p>


Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav struck a conciliatory tone by calling on father, Mulayam Singh Yadav, after getting 'bicycle' election symbol

By Anuradha Mukherjee Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav's fondness for bicycles is well-known, so the Election Commission of India's decision to grant the election symbol to the Samajwadi Party (SP) faction led by him must feel like a sweet gift. But politicians aligned to the faction led by his father, Mulayam Singh Yadav, assert that this is not the end of the battle and that the two factions may ultimately fight it out in the UP polls. "Now everything, including a joint existence of the two factions in SP, may depend on the Uttar Pradesh polls. If the bicycle symbol were not given to Akhilesh, or if it was frozen, Mulayam Singh would have fielded parallel candidates on all 403 assembly seats, but not now," an SP politician from the Mulayam faction told WION from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh's capital. What also looks quite possible now is the much-discussed coalition with the Congress party which is expected to get 89-100 seats in the alliance. While Akhilesh supporters were clearly happy, but guarded in their response, the gloom in Mulayam's camp was but palpable. In fact, soon after the victory, Akhilesh rushed to call on his father, Mulayam, in what is being seen as an assertion of his personal relationship with the veteran politician. Mulayam's supporters were mostly tight-lipped and said they would be able to respond to the development only once the party members discuss matters tomorrow. However, a politician close to the Mulayam camp said any decision of forging a truce would depend on Netaji "or the leader" as the veteran politician is fondly called. "Whether the two groups decide to solve their differences will depend on Netaji. People who are being called 'anti-Akhilesh' today are those who followed Netaji. Now if Akhilesh goes into a coalition with Congress party, where will the sitting legislators of SP go? Then Mulayam Singh ji will field those MLAs (members of legislative assembly) from those seats against the Congress," said the SP politician from Mulayam's faction. "When these sitting SP MLAs are denied tickets from seats that are allotted to Congress, they will definitely present their grievance in front of Mulayam Singh. He will then tell them to contest the polls with his photograph on their posters or on the ticket of his old party, Lok Dal, on the symbol of kisan (farmer). Lok Dal leader Sunil Singh has already offered its national president's position to Mulayam ji and has been quite critical of Akhilesh," he added. The coalition with the Congress party was also a sore point between the father-son combine. Congress politician Kapil Sibal represented Akhilesh Yadav's group in the EC in the election symbol case. "Given the overwhelming support received by Akhilesh's group, EC gave its decision," Kapil Sibal, Akhilesh Yadav's lawyer told the media on Monday. Former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit, who was being touted as the Congress face in the state, had also announced her endorsement of Akhilesh for sometime now. “I am ready to step away if the Congress decides to go into an alliance with Akhilesh Yadav,” Dikshit said. The two warring arms of the Yadav clan that controls Samajwadi Party, in power in India's most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, took their claim to the EC after son Akhilesh and father Mulayam Singh Yadav declared their own lists of candidates for the upcoming assembly polls. Akhilesh declared majority support among his sitting legislators, something he was able to prove in ECI through affidavits submitted, and literally wrested control of the party from his father who founded it, using state police to seize control of the party headquarters in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh's capital. However, the Akhilesh camp expressed hope of a reunion of the father and son duo. "The party is united and is with Akhilesh Yadav. It was clear in the meeting of party workers that was held recently," said Rajan Chaudhary of SP, also a state minister. Asked if he saw the ECI decision changing things for his party that looked headed for a split, he hoped: "The difficult situation that had arisen will change. And Mulayam Singh ji is a large-hearted person. He will come around." (WION)

Samajwadi Party braces for second leg of 'Pari-War': Rift can be fought out in UP polls

<p>His failure to provide a matching response to Ram Gopal Yadav&#39;s meticulous paperwork submitted to the Election Commission of India seems to have cost Samajwadi leader Mulayam Singh Yadav dear with the poll-body today deciding that the group led by his son Akhilesh Yadav &ldquo;is the Samajwadi Party and is entitled to use its name and its reserved symbol &#39;bicycle&#39;&quot; in the upcoming assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh.</p>

<p>The Election Commission&#39;s 42-page order on the father-son dispute makes for interesting reading. It lays down in great detail the entire sequence of events that played out in the Samajwadi symbol saga over the past few weeks.</p>

<p>While adjudicating on the case, the EC held that the &quot;facts and circumstances of the present case are to a large extent similar to those in the case of the split in the Indian National Congress and, therefore, the Commission is perfectly justified in applying the same test of majority in the present case as well&quot;.</p>

<p>In an affidavit submitted on January 6, Ram Gopal Yadav, on behalf of the Akhilesh Yadav group submitted individual affidavits of the members of legislative and organisational wings (see attached pic) in support of his claim of the majority support among the members of the party for the Akhilesh Yadav group.</p>

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<p>Members supporting Akhilesh Yadav (WION)</p>
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<p>In his reply on January 9, Mulayam, on the other hand, &ldquo;did not file any affidavit (except his own affidavit) of any member of Parliament or State Legislature or of any delegates; nor did he make claim of any support among the aforesaid category of members for his group, inspite of the fact that he had been specifically directed&rdquo; by the EC to file &ldquo;all such affidavits in support of his claim&rdquo;.</p>

<p>Realizing the urgency of the matter in view of the fast approaching elections in Uttar Pradesh, where the first notification calling the general election for the first phase from 73 assembly constituencies is scheduled to be notified on 17th January, the EC then fixed an urgent hearing in the matter on January 13.</p>

<p>While sending the notice to both the groups on January 10, the Election Commission again specifically directed both the groups that if they have any further documents to submit, they should do so by 5.00 p.m on January 12, along with synopsis of the oral arguments that they may advance at the hearing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&ldquo;Again, Shri Mulayam Singh Yadav group did not file any affidavit of any members of Parliament or state legislature or of any delegates to claim any support among those members for his group. In all his replies, Shri Mulayam Singh Yadav only made the contention that there was no split in the party which needed determination under para 15 of the Symbols Order,&rdquo; the EC order said today.</p>

<p>The EC order further states that the Mulayam camp &ldquo;vaguely&rdquo; stated that a &ldquo;bare perusal of the said affidavits reveal that they contain the same contents in English so much so that the errors/mistakes which have crept in one has been carried in most of them&rdquo;.</p>

<p>&ldquo;For instance, in number of affidavits instead of word &#39;&#39;held&quot; the word &quot;help&quot; has been printed and the same error has been carried in majority of affidavits. It appears that the deponents have been seemingly called upon to sign on dotted lines. Moreover, the most of such deponents are not versed with English language, the affidavits allegedly sworn by them are in English and it has not been mentioned that the contents were read over to them in vernacular,&rdquo; the Mulayam camp argued.</p>

<p>It also added that the affidavits submitted by Ram Gopal Yadav &ldquo;do not contain averment that the affidavits have been sworn by the deponents without any fear, favour or influence, which is essential in such like situations&rdquo;.</p>

<p>The EC has said that except for these &ldquo;vague allegations&rdquo;, the Mulayam group--despite repeated opportunities given to it&mdash;neither filed any affidavit from any member nor indicated even the name of one member whose affidavit was considered by him to be suspect, or questioned the numbers claimed by Ram Gopal Yadav.</p>

<p>The substantive documentation made available by the Akhilesh Yadav camp&mdash;with senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal as its legal counsel&mdash;was enough to convince the EC that Akhilesh did enjoy &ldquo;overwhelming majority support, both among the legislative and organizational wing of the party&rdquo;.</p>

<p>(WION)<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Ram Gopal Yadav submitted individual affidavits of the members of legislative and organisational wings in favour of Akhilesh Yadav

His failure to provide a matching response to Ram Gopal Yadav's meticulous paperwork submitted to the Election Commission of India seems to have cost Samajwadi leader Mulayam Singh Yadav dear with the poll-body today deciding that the group led by his son Akhilesh Yadav “is the Samajwadi Party and is entitled to use its name and its reserved symbol 'bicycle'" in the upcoming assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh. The Election Commission's 42-page order on the father-son dispute makes for interesting reading. It lays down in great detail the entire sequence of events that played out in the Samajwadi symbol saga over the past few weeks. While adjudicating on the case, the EC held that the "facts and circumstances of the present case are to a large extent similar to those in the case of the split in the Indian National Congress and, therefore, the Commission is perfectly justified in applying the same test of majority in the present case as well". In an affidavit submitted on January 6, Ram Gopal Yadav, on behalf of the Akhilesh Yadav group submitted individual affidavits of the members of legislative and organisational wings (see attached pic) in support of his claim of the majority support among the members of the party for the Akhilesh Yadav group. Members supporting Akhilesh Yadav (WION) × In his reply on January 9, Mulayam, on the other hand, “did not file any affidavit (except his own affidavit) of any member of Parliament or State Legislature or of any delegates; nor did he make claim of any support among the aforesaid category of members for his group, inspite of the fact that he had been specifically directed” by the EC to file “all such affidavits in support of his claim”. Realizing the urgency of the matter in view of the fast approaching elections in Uttar Pradesh, where the first notification calling the general election for the first phase from 73 assembly constituencies is scheduled to be notified on 17th January, the EC then fixed an urgent hearing in the matter on January 13. While sending the notice to both the groups on January 10, the Election Commission again specifically directed both the groups that if they have any further documents to submit, they should do so by 5.00 p.m on January 12, along with synopsis of the oral arguments that they may advance at the hearing. “Again, Shri Mulayam Singh Yadav group did not file any affidavit of any members of Parliament or state legislature or of any delegates to claim any support among those members for his group. In all his replies, Shri Mulayam Singh Yadav only made the contention that there was no split in the party which needed determination under para 15 of the Symbols Order,” the EC order said today. The EC order further states that the Mulayam camp “vaguely” stated that a “bare perusal of the said affidavits reveal that they contain the same contents in English so much so that the errors/mistakes which have crept in one has been carried in most of them”. “For instance, in number of affidavits instead of word ''held" the word "help" has been printed and the same error has been carried in majority of affidavits. It appears that the deponents have been seemingly called upon to sign on dotted lines. Moreover, the most of such deponents are not versed with English language, the affidavits allegedly sworn by them are in English and it has not been mentioned that the contents were read over to them in vernacular,” the Mulayam camp argued. It also added that the affidavits submitted by Ram Gopal Yadav “do not contain averment that the affidavits have been sworn by the deponents without any fear, favour or influence, which is essential in such like situations”. The EC has said that except for these “vague allegations”, the Mulayam group--despite repeated opportunities given to it—neither filed any affidavit from any member nor indicated even the name of one member whose affidavit was considered by him to be suspect, or questioned the numbers claimed by Ram Gopal Yadav. The substantive documentation made available by the Akhilesh Yadav camp—with senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal as its legal counsel—was enough to convince the EC that Akhilesh did enjoy “overwhelming majority support, both among the legislative and organizational wing of the party”. (WION)

Meticulous paperwork by Akhilesh-led faction swayed Election Commission's order on 'bicycle' symbol in his favour

<p>The Election Commission of India (EC) warned political parties that it will take &quot;stern action&quot; if the model code of conduct or poll laws are violated by them in the five poll-bound states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur.</p>

<p>The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) came into effect just after the announcement of the polls on January 4.</p>

<p>The Election Commission said that peace and tranquillity during the poll&nbsp;process is &quot;absolutely essential for free and peaceful conduct of elections in the country&quot;.</p>

<p>The poll body cited a recent judgement of the Supreme Court, India&#39;s top court, that barred political parties from using religion, caste, language and race to appeal for votes during elections.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;As you are kindly aware the model code of conduct and various provisions of IPC, inter alia, provide that political parties and their leaders should desist from making statements to the effect of creating disharmony between different sections of society on the basis of religion as the same disturb peace and tranquillity of the society which is absolutely essential for free and peaceful conduct of elections,&quot; it said.</p>

<p>The election body&#39;s letter to the national and state parties added: &quot;The Commission will not remain a silent spectator if the provisions of law or MCC are violated and no one can do it with impunity. The Commission will take stern actions for any violation under all powers available.&quot;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">EC says it will take &quot;stern action&quot; under all the powers available for any violation of the model code of conduct <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews">@WIONews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONbreaking">@WIONbreaking</a></p>
&mdash; raghvendra_rao (@raghvendra_rao) <a href="https://twitter.com/raghvendra_rao/status/818816536445992963">January 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">EC reminds pol parties of recent SC judgement that said religion can&#39;t be used to garner votes during polls <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews">@WIONews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONbreaking">@WIONbreaking</a></p>
&mdash; raghvendra_rao (@raghvendra_rao) <a href="https://twitter.com/raghvendra_rao/status/818816829149691904">January 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Statements which disturb peace, tranquility of society will be sternly dealt with, EC tells political parties <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews">@WIONews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONbreaking">@WIONbreaking</a></p>
&mdash; raghvendra_rao (@raghvendra_rao) <a href="https://twitter.com/raghvendra_rao/status/818817075728650240">January 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The Election Commission&nbsp;has also said that the photographs of political leaders on all hoardings and advertisements in the five poll-bound states should&nbsp;be removed or covered as the Model Code of Conduct is in place.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The pictures on hoardings that project the achievements of any political functionary or political party should be either covered or removed, the Election Commission said.</p>

<p>&quot;...all those hoardings, advertisements which seek or purport to project the achievements of any living political functionary or political party and which carry their photos or name or party symbol should be removed forthwith,&quot; the election body said.</p>

<p>The poll panel said that such images or hoardings &quot;undoubtedly amount to their (individual/party) election campaign at public cost&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;...No political party or functionary can use public resources and incur or authorise expenditure from public exchequer to eulogise himself or itself or enhance his/its own or any political leader&#39;s image,&quot; it said.</p>

<p>The commission gave these fresh directions by reiterating its instructions issued on December 12, 2004 after the chief electoral officer of Goa raised the issue after the election schedule was announced on January 4.</p>

<p>It, however, made it clear that hoardings put up by the government which convey messages on family planning or social welfare schemes &quot;may be allowed to be displayed&quot;.</p>

<p>(With inputs from the PTI)<br />
&nbsp;</p>


The election body also ordered that pictures of political leaders on hoardings be removed as the Model Code of Conduct is in place

The Election Commission of India (EC) warned political parties that it will take "stern action" if the model code of conduct or poll laws are violated by them in the five poll-bound states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur. The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) came into effect just after the announcement of the polls on January 4. The Election Commission said that peace and tranquillity during the poll process is "absolutely essential for free and peaceful conduct of elections in the country". The poll body cited a recent judgement of the Supreme Court, India's top court, that barred political parties from using religion, caste, language and race to appeal for votes during elections. "As you are kindly aware the model code of conduct and various provisions of IPC, inter alia, provide that political parties and their leaders should desist from making statements to the effect of creating disharmony between different sections of society on the basis of religion as the same disturb peace and tranquillity of the society which is absolutely essential for free and peaceful conduct of elections," it said. The election body's letter to the national and state parties added: "The Commission will not remain a silent spectator if the provisions of law or MCC are violated and no one can do it with impunity. The Commission will take stern actions for any violation under all powers available." EC says it will take "stern action" under all the powers available for any violation of the model code of conduct @WIONews @WIONbreaking — raghvendra_rao (@raghvendra_rao) January 10, 2017 × EC reminds pol parties of recent SC judgement that said religion can't be used to garner votes during polls @WIONews @WIONbreaking — raghvendra_rao (@raghvendra_rao) January 10, 2017 × Statements which disturb peace, tranquility of society will be sternly dealt with, EC tells political parties @WIONews @WIONbreaking — raghvendra_rao (@raghvendra_rao) January 10, 2017 × The Election Commission has also said that the photographs of political leaders on all hoardings and advertisements in the five poll-bound states should be removed or covered as the Model Code of Conduct is in place. The pictures on hoardings that project the achievements of any political functionary or political party should be either covered or removed, the Election Commission said. "...all those hoardings, advertisements which seek or purport to project the achievements of any living political functionary or political party and which carry their photos or name or party symbol should be removed forthwith," the election body said. The poll panel said that such images or hoardings "undoubtedly amount to their (individual/party) election campaign at public cost". "...No political party or functionary can use public resources and incur or authorise expenditure from public exchequer to eulogise himself or itself or enhance his/its own or any political leader's image," it said. The commission gave these fresh directions by reiterating its instructions issued on December 12, 2004 after the chief electoral officer of Goa raised the issue after the election schedule was announced on January 4. It, however, made it clear that hoardings put up by the government which convey messages on family planning or social welfare schemes "may be allowed to be displayed". (With inputs from the PTI)

India Assembly polls: Election Commission warns political parties of 'stern action' if poll code violated