CEC rejects Mulayam’s plea for February polls

Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswamy has virtually ruled out any possibility of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections being held in February, as was demanded by CM Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswamy has virtually ruled out any possibility of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections being held in February, as was demanded by CM Mulayam Singh Yadav. He, however, has said that it is his “constitutional obligation” to hold the polls by May 14.

The CEC has accepted the demand of all political parties — barring the ruling Samajwadi Party —to deploy paramilitary forces during the polls. The representatives from all parties met the CEC today.

Samajwadi Party general secretary and MP Ram Gopal Yadav had earlier requested the CEC that they want complete participation of farmers and so it would be appropriate to hold the polls in February.

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But the Opposition parties did not agree with the government’s plea. They argued that it would be examination time and the students wouldn’t be able to exercise their franchise.

“We have made it very clear to the CEC that Mulayam’s demand was not expected from him in his capacity as a CM. He has no right to demand early polls when the government is not in a position to promise that it would be held without a bloodbath,” said UPCC president Salman Khurshid. He however, added that the parties have told the CEC that they are ready for February polls too, but in that case, the EC has to put in place a thorough groundwork so the polls are free and fair.

Mumbai rally lost, SP clashes with Cong

LUCKNOW: The Congress-led Maharashtra Government’s move to stop the Samajwadi Party from holding the “Atyachar Virodhi” rally in Mumbai has caused due unrest in the Mulayam brigade.

On Thursday, as Lucknow saw angry protests, Kanpur saw vandalism and violence as the workers of SP and Congress came face to face in front of the DM’s office. About two dozen people from both parties were injured in the subsequent brick batting. Angry workers burnt the effigy of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi at Lucknow’s main Hazratganj crossing. The violence in Kanpur started as over 2,000 Congress workers on a march against the SP government came upon 500 SP supporters sitting on a dharna in front of the DM’s office. The supporters of both parties entered into heated arguments and started throwing chairs at each other. The SP men fired a few rounds in the air.