EC, Minister in row over UP polls plan

A dispute has emerged between the Election Commission and the government over the proposed schedule for Union Parishad elections. The Election Commission has prepared a preliminary plan to hold the polls in several phases from 12 November. But Local Government State Minister Mir Shahe Alam said the government was not informed about the proposed dates. The EC secretary declined to comment on the minister’s remarks and said a final decision would be made after an inter-ministerial meeting on 17 September.

Speaking to reporters at the Election Commission office in Agargaon on Tuesday, EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed was asked about State Minister Mir Shahe Alam’s comments that the government knew nothing about the proposed election dates.

“I respect the state minister’s statement. But I will not make any counter-comment. No comments from my side,” the EC secretary said.

On Monday, Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md Sanullah said the commission had prepared a preliminary plan to hold the Union Parishad elections in several phases. He said the plan was not final.

The commission is scheduled to hold an inter-ministerial meeting on 17 September. Representatives from the Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Education and other stakeholders involved in the election process will attend the meeting.

The commission will take their views before finalising the election schedule.

State Minister Mir Shahe Alam told reporters at the Secretariat on Tuesday that he learned about the proposed election dates from newspapers, social media and television.

“I want to tell the people that the government knows nothing about this. There has been no letter or discussion with the government on the matter,” he said.

The minister said the Election Commission is an independent constitutional body and has the power to conduct elections. But he said that, under the usual practice, the government is consulted before local government elections are arranged.

He said preparatory meetings are normally held with the government and law enforcement agencies before election dates are announced.

“There are also issues such as the budget. There has been no discussion with the Local Government Ministry or the government about the dates announced by the Election Commission,” he said.

Meanwhile, at a press briefing at the Secretariat on Tuesday, Dr Zahed Ur Rahman, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting, said the government would discuss the local government elections with the Election Commission before making a decision.

He said the government’s role is important in local government elections.

“The Election Commission can constitutionally conduct elections to Parliament and for the presidency. For other elections, it has to work with the government. The government will hold discussions with the Election Commission and arrange the election. This is not a conflict,” he said.