The Hindu : Contest appears to be certain

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 03, 2002

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National

Contest appears to be certain

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI July 2. The 12th Vice-Presidential election to elect the successor to the present incumbent, Krishan Kant, (whose term ends on August 20) will be held on August 12 and counting of votes, if required, will take place the same day. As of now, a contest appears very much on the cards as no attempt has been made so far from the Government side to reach any kind of understanding with the Opposition.

Announcing the election schedule here today, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), J.M. Lyngdoh, along with two Election Commissioners, T.S. Krishnamurthy and B.B. Tandon, said the Commission was mandated to ensure that the election was free and fair and it was taking all necessary steps for discharging its responsibility.

He also said the Commission's revised guidelines, based on the Supreme Court directions regarding filing of an affidavit by a candidate contesting an election to Parliament or State Legislature, would be implemented in the election to fill a vacancy in the Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra and notification for this would be issued on July 8.

Accordingly candidates filing nominations to contest the Rajya Sabha seat would have to file an affidavit furnishing information regarding pendency of criminal cases, if any, convicted or charge sheeted; giving details of assets and liabilities, including that of his/her family members and giving his/her educational qualification.

The CEC said the notification for the election of Vice-President would be issued on July 10; last date for making nominations, July 24; scrutiny on July 25; last date for withdrawal, July 27; polling if necessary on August 12 and counting if required would be taken up the same day.

He said the Vice-President was elected by members of both Houses of Parliament by the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote. The electoral college comprised 790 members, viz. 245 from the Rajya Sabha, including 12 nominated members and 545 from Lok Sabha, including two nominated members.

Mr. Lyngdoh said the nomination papers should be proposed by 20 electors and seconded by the same number and an elector could either propose or second a candidate. An elector could propose only one nomination and the security deposit of Rs. 15,000 should be made along with the nomination paper.

He said the Commission, in consultation with the Centre had decided to appoint the Lok Sabha Secretary General as the Returning Officer and it would also appoint Assistant Returning Officers from amongst the officers of the Lok Sabha Secretariat.

Indications are that the principal Opposition party, the Congress, will offer a spirited fight if the ruling combine were to go ahead with the former Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, as its nominee. Though the party has not had any formal consultations with other Opposition parties in this regard, efforts will be made to evolve a joint strategy. The CPI(M), too, was in favour of a consensus, should the NDA adopt such a course. But in the event of the NDA foisting its candidate on the polity, the CPI(M) would try to work with other parties in the Opposition to put up a candidate. Should that, too, fail as in the case of the Presidential elections, the CPI(M), according to the politburo member, Sitaram Yechury, would put up its own candidate.

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