SHILLONG: The State Congress will write to the Election Commission of India (ECI) for simultaneous by-polls in South Tura and Ranikor while UDP already wrote to the chief election commissioner on Wednesday on the issue.
“We will write to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) asking him to examine the matter,” Congress spokesperson HM Shangpliang said on Tuesday.
According to the Congress leader, Ranikor seat was vacant first and then South Tura seat and the election should have been held simultaneously.
“We will be faxing the letter to the CEC immediately,” he said.
The UDP’s letter written by the party’s general secretary, Jemino Mawthoh, said the date for the by-elections is constitutionally time-bound. However, it is felt that since the two constituencies is in Meghalaya, it would be advisable to hold the elections simultaneously, thereby leaving no chances for political influence and manipulation.
UDP too put forward the argument that Ranikor seat was vacated on June 21 and South Tura on July 2.
“I would like to strongly urge your good office to kindly notify the same election date for both the above constituencies so as to ensure free and fair polls, which would augur well for the people of the state of Meghalaya and would leave no room for casting aspersions,” the UDP letter to the poll commission said, adding that there were no justification to hold the elections on separate polling dates for the two constituencies.
“As a matter of fact, the Ranikor constituency deserves earlier election than South Tura constituency since the people of Ranikor has been without an elected representative much earlier than South Tura,” the UDP general secretary added.
