No Announcement On Wayanad Bypoll After Rahul Gandhi’s Disqualification, ECI Says 'Will Wait'

"We have six months' time to hold a by-election after a seat falls vacant. The trial court has given 30 days time for judicial remedy. So, we will wait," said CEC Rajiv Kumar. 

Wayanad seat has fallen vacant after disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha

Source : PTI File Photo

New Delhi: During its press conference today to announce poll schedule for Karnataka Assembly polls, the Election Commission of India made no announcement for Wayanad bypolls after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from Lok Sabha. "We have six months' time to hold a by-election after a seat falls vacant. The trial court has given 30 days time for judicial remedy. So, we will wait," said Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, reported. 

We have six months' time to hold a by-election after a seat falls vacant. The trial court has given 30 days time for judicial remedy. So, we will wait: CEC Rajiv Kumar on Rahul Gandhi's Wayanad parliamentary seat pic.twitter.com/nZJluwU4IT

— ANI (@ANI) March 29, 2023

The Congress leader was disqualified from the lower House of the Parliament on Friday last week after he was found guilty in a 2019 defamation case over his 'Modi-surname' remark during a poll campaign in Karnataka. Following his disqualification, the Wayanad seat was announced vacant the same day.

He was given a sentence of two years in prison by the court in the defamation case brought by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi for his alleged remark, "How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname."

On Monday, Gandhi had agreed to vacate his government accommodation after a notice was sent to him by Lok Sabha secretariat. 

The case was filed against the Wayanad MP for his alleged “how come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?” remarks on a complaint lodged by BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi. Gandhi made the alleged remarks while addressing a rally at Kolar in Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

In his complaint, the BJP MLA alleged that Gandhi  while addressing the poll rally in 2019, defamed the entire Modi community by purportedly saying, "How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?"