Guj police input led to Modi rally cancellation: EC

Election Commission regrets delay in conveying the decision to BJP

Election Commissioner Brahma, who hails from Andhra Pradesh, stated that he was “pained” and “felt sorry” on the division of his State. “I regret that such a beautiful State was divided into two-halves,” he remarked, likening the situation with a family, where suddenly husband and wife are informed that they are separated.

New Delhi: The Election Commission on Friday admitted that they should have responded fast in giving information “either way” to the BJP, when it sought permission for holding a rally for BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in Beniyabagh.

It, however, defended the Varanasi District Magistrate Pranjal Yadav, saying that he had received an IB report, signed by five officials, with one of them being a police official from Gujarat. The official had warned that holding a rally in the areas would not be desirable.

Late in the evening, EC appointed a special observer for the high-profile seat.

Interacting with women journalists, Election Commissioner H S Brahma admitted that the 2014 elections were the toughest and with two days left for the last phase of polling, the EC expected that the decibel levels of the political leaders will get shriller, as it was a matter of “survival” for some parties. Replying to a query on the EC being labeled as “timid,” he said, that it was a “subjective view” of some individuals and only after the poll results on May 16, it will be finally be known as to who is timid.

Brahma, who hails from Andhra Pradesh, stated that he was “pained” and “felt sorry” on the division of his State. “I regret that such a beautiful State was divided into two-halves,” he remarked, likening the situation with a family, where suddenly husband and wife are informed that they are separated henceforth.

He admitted that this time round it was difficult for them to implement the Model Code of Conduct, given the use of digital technology and the return of money and muscle power after the Assembly elections in 2012 in States like UP and Gujarat. He said that the muscle-power has to be nipped in the bud. The Election Commissioner advised all the political parties to “keep cool” for the next 150 hours, till the results are out. Out of the 83 crore voters, around 50 crore voters have already cast their votes in the eight phases of elections. He informed that there were 1600 political parties registered with the EC and only six parties have been critical and sending petitions to the EC.