EC says not enough VVPATs to hold simultaneous by-elections in WB

New Delhi: Shortage of VVPATs has forced the Election Commission not to hold simultaneous by-elections for two Assembly seats and one Lok Sabha seat in West Bengal, the autonomous constitutional authority clarified to Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Monday.

After a delegation of the ruling party in West Bengal met the EC, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien informed, "The Election Commission of India categorically informed us that the VVPATs are not available in sufficient number to hold simultaneous by-elections in Sabong and Noapara Assembly seats and Uluberia Lok Sabha seat."

Reportedly, only 2,500 VVPATs are needed to hold the elections simultaneously. Talking to media persons here on Tuesday, the TMC senior leader also added, "On the one hand, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi is talking about simultaneous elections, and on the other hand Election Commission doesn't have sufficient infrastructure."

The vacancies were caused due to the resignation of Manas Bhunia, MLA from Sabong, on July 24 this year and the death of Noapara MLA Madhusudan Ghosh on August 18. Sultan Ahmed, who represented Uluberia Lok Sabha seat died on September 4 this year.

The Election Commission has already announced the schedule for by-elections for two Assembly seats in Arunachal Pradesh, one in Uttar Pradesh and one in Tamil Nadu.

TMC had also alleged that the EC was being biased, but the Election Commission rubbished the charges and asserted that it is operating independently.

The TMC delegation also submitted a memorandum to EC – mentioning, "In the fitness of the situation, all these three casual vacancies are required to be filled in simultaneously to allow the electorate of those constituencies elect their representatives and the sooner it is done it would not only be better for them, but also conform to the practiced conventions."

The delegation further referred to the vacancy caused by the demise of E Ahmed, MP of Malappuram parliamentary constituency on February 1 2017, which was filled within 70 days through a by-election on April 20.