Election Commission

The Bill is likely to trigger a fresh face-off between the executive and the judiciary. The Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Services and Term of Office) Bill, 2023, is likely to be introduced in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

"I appointed the State Election Commissioner. I had faith in him that he will ensure free and fair polls. But I feel that the common people are disappointed. There has been so much bloodshed," the Governor said while speaking to mediapersons here. The Governor's remarks came after the division bench of Calcutta High Court's Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam on Wednesday advised Sinha to step down from his chair if he is unable to perform his duty.

Barring few incidents, the polling was overall peaceful, the EC Secretariat said in a statement. The southern state had crossed 50 per cent of voters turnout in the post-lunch period. By 5 p.m., 65.69 per cent of voters turned out and excercised their voting rights. The voter turnout in the high voltage Varuna seat was recorded at 84.39 per cent. It is one among the keenly observed seats as Opposition leader Siddaramaiah and Minister for Housing V. Somanna are contesting from this seat.

An officer of the Election Commission told IANS, "This is a unique art form... and to evoke the memories of the art and to promote it, we have incorporated the art in a polling booth in Gangavati constituency."

In the notice to the Congress chief, the EC said: "I am directed to refer to a complaint dated May 8, 2023 submitted by the leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party, namely, Bhupender Yadav, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Tarun Chugh, Anil Baluni and Om Pathak to the Commission regarding a tweet which appeared on the official Twitter handle of the Congress on May 6, 2023 at 09:46 PM."

Bengaluru: The BJP has lodged a complaint with the Election Commissioner of India and the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka against Sonia Gandhi for making the statement, “the Congress will not allow anyone to pose a threat to Karnataka’s reputation, sovereignty or integrity.”

In its notice, the EC has directed both leaders to submit their answers on May 4 (Thursday) by 5 p.m. The notice has been issued for violating the model code of conduct, and making personal attacks. The EC has asked both leaders to explain "why an action should not be initiated against them?"

Just a few minutes after the Chief Minister refuted the allegations at a press conference, Adhikari issued a Twitter message claiming that she made the call to Delhi from her landline. "For making the call to Delhi, you used a landline. I'd expose you in due time. Wait for my befitting reply tomorrow," Adhikari said in his Twitter message where he also used the term "Yeh Darr Mujhe Achha Laga (I like this feeling of fear)".

In an affidavit, citing its "Proposed Electoral Reforms, 2016", the EC said it had reiterated its 2004 recommendation that persons charged with cognisable offences, which are punishable with imprisonment of at least five years, where charges have been framed and where the cases have been filed at least six months prior to the election, should be debarred from contesting elections.

In a counter-affidavit, the EC said: "Since the impugned order was passed not in an administrative capacity of the commission but in a quasi-judicial capacity under Paragraph 15 of the Symbols Order, it has no contentions to make on merits of the case as the impugned order is a well-reasoned order and covers all the issues raised by the petitioner."