ES Reporter 

 

ITANAGAR, Nov 13: Reiterating their objection to the decision of the State Election Commission (SEC) to go ahead with the simultaneous Panchayati Raj and Municipal elections despite the request for its deferment by various political parties in the recently held all-party meeting, the state’s opposition parties today threatened to knock the doors of courts against the decision.

Addressing the media persons here at the Press Club, General Secretary, APCC, Toko Mina sought a justification from the SEC on its adamant decision to conduct the elections during the pandemic. “When you had the time and also when the High Court gave the direction to conduct the elections, why didn’t you conduct then? You went ahead and disobeyed the constitutional mandate and also disregarded the High Court order and now when the situation is so vulnerable you want to conduct the elections,” Mina said.

Drawing attention to the increasing number of active Covid-19 cases in the state which are currently in thousands and the increasing cases of related deaths, the Congress spokesperson reasoned that Arunachal is in a danger zone now and the elections might trigger a new wave in interior areas. She also cited the example of government offices where the staff strength has been reduced to 50-60 % of the capacity due to the prevailing pandemic. Mina also said the decision of the SEC will affect the state’s Christians for whom the whole of December is the month of celebration leading up to Christmas on December 25, besides being the harvesting season for farmers. She further demanded that the elections should be conducted during the monsoon.

Presenting their view, working President of the People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA) Kahfa Bengia expressed resentment over the SEC's disregard of the views of political parties. Reminding that human lives are precious, he took the line same that of the Congress spokesperson and demanded that the elections should be conducted only after March next year. "People are trying to get back to economic normalcy after months of lockdowns and the SEC is trying to impose another lockdown-like situation by conducting the elections,” he added.

Echoing similar sentiments, Janata Dal Secular (JDS) Arunachal Unit Spokesperson Jarjum Ete demanded a white paper on the total funds sanctioned by the Central government and the details of utilization of funds meant for Centrally sponsored rural and urban development schemes since the time the PR and municipal elections were not conducted. “How much progress has been made regarding the move for inclusion of the state in the 6th Schedule of the Indian Constitution?” she asked, demanding an immediate release of its blueprint.

“Elections should not be conducted till the Covid-19 vaccine is out or at least till the state is declared to be Covid-19 free,” the JDS spokesperson opined.

ITANAGAR, Nov 13: Expressing its resentment against the decision of the State Election Commission (SEC) to go ahead with Municipal and Panchayat elections in the state amid the Covid pandemic and that too in a single phase, the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) has sought a reconsideration.

In a press release issued on Friday, AAPSU rued that despite a joint demand by the state’s political parties for postponing and conducting the simultaneous elections at a later date, the SEC has been adamant enough to declare the date. “The state is already reeling under a weak health infrastructure and shortage of manpower. Does the State Election Commission (SEC) guarantee the safety of people during the entire period of the election? The Commission should reconsider and re-look into its decision and any spurt of Covid-19 cases including the possible casualties in rural areas which are still largely unaffected shall be its sole responsibility,” the release read. The union also recalled that the State Health Task Force (SHTF) constituted by the state government to tackle the pandemic has also written to the SEC to defer the elections till the winter is over as there are high possibilities of a relapse of cases.

Alleging that the Commission has taken a unilateral decision, AAPSU said that the Health Department’s opinion should have been taken into cognizance which has clearly opined for postponement of the PR elections until the passing of winter. AAPSU PR