Ind-Pak tension: 2019 general elections will be held on time, says Election Commission

Replying to a question on the possible notification of the Lok Sabha poll dates, Arora said the media and the country would come to know of it through the "usual press conference", as per the norm.

Image only for representational purpose

Chief Election Commissioner says the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan will have no bearing on the upcoming general election.

The elections will be held on time, says CEC Sunil Arora

The 2019 general polls will take place in April-May

New Delhi: The Election Commission on Friday made it clear that ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan will have no bearing on the upcoming general election in April-May. On whether the polls would be postponed in the wake of the situation that has arisen following the February 14 Pulwama attack on a CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir and the subsequent IAF strike to destroy Jaish-e-Mohammad terror camps in Pakistan's Balakot, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said , " the elections will be held on time." Replying to a question on the possible notification of the Lok Sabha poll dates, Arora said the media and the country would come to know of it through the "usual press conference", as per the norm. Arora said as per a new notification of the commission, candidates will have to give details of their properties abroad, besides those in the country. "The I-T department will look into it and, if any, discrepancies are found then it will be uploaded on the Election Commission (EC) website and strict action will be initiated," the CEC said. Commenting on the election commission's stand on inflammatory speeches, Arora said in his review meetings, he tried to find out the status of such cases lodged during previous elections. "Whatever the EC has found, I have apprised about its intentions to the chief secretary and the DGP, who assured that strict action will be taken in such cases," he said. The commission is committed to holding free and fair polls, and will promptly act on any complaint regarding this, the CEC said. "The C-Vigil app will be launched soon so that any citizen, whose name will be kept secret, can register his poll related complaints. Besides this, we will constitute committees to keep an eye on social media," he was quoted by news agency PTI. He said in all the 1,63,331 polling centres, VVPAT machines will be used this time. Meanwhile, the Congress on Thursday bluntly told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that there are times in a nation’s life that are not suited to politicking and lamented that the ruling party was not in sync with the national spirit.

Published at : 01 Mar 2019 03:52 PM (IST)

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