SAD deliberately delaying assembly bypoll: Khaira
Sunday, 16/03/2014
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140316/punjab.htm#2
Asks EC for Talwandi Sabo byelection with LS poll
Chandigarh : The state Congress has urged the Election Commission (EC) to hold bypoll to the Talwandi Sabo assembly constituency in Bathinda district on April 30, the date of Lok Sabha elections in Punjab.
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee spokesman Sukhpal Khaira, in a complaint to the Chief Election Commissioner today, alleged that the ruling SAD-BJP alliance had "willfully concealed" the vacancy in the seat due to the resignation of the sitting MLA.
"The Talwandi Sabo Assembly seat has fallen vacant due to the resignation of Sidhu. The Congress MLA tendered his resignation to the Assembly Speaker on March 7 when the House was in session. The Speaker accepted the resignation and made a formal announcement the same day," said Khaira.
But the Speaker had failed to issue a formal gazette notification declaring the seat vacant and inform the EC and the Punjab Chief Electoral Officer, alleged the Congress leader.
The Congress alleged that “the SAD-BJP government would prefer a separate by-election for the Talwandi Sabo seat so that the government could misuse its official machinery and exercise undue influence upon the voters”.
The Congress leadership demanded that since the notification for the 13 Lok Sabha seats in the state was to be issued on April 2, the notification for the by-election also be issued on the same date.
CEO awaits nod for auction of liquor vends
The Punjab Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) still awaits a reply from the Chief Election Commissioner for allowing auction of liquor vends in the state on March 22.
Excise and Taxation Commissioner Anurag Verma said, “A public notice was published in newspapers on March 2, at least three days before the formal announcement of the Lok Sabha poll.”
Official sources said “permission was a mere formality as all steps had been taken in line with the formal requirements.
