Jubilee Post News & Views
News Desk
Corona Virus spread has made an impact upon almost everything in the country. Right from international to domestic movement and with lockdown in the country the life has come to a halt, apart from fighting with the coronavirus.
The manner in which the number of cases went up indicates the lockdown will not be easy to open and with recent decision of the Odisa government to extend it till April 30 the point has gained significance. As per the data from www.covid19india.org the number of cases has gone up to 6217. The Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh governments have decided to seal the areas hotspots in districts.
The politics in the country too has been effected. The Maharastra CM is member of none of the houses and this lockdown has brought trouble before him. While 17 Rajya Sabha seats are vacant in 7 Indian states.
Four seats each in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, three each in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, two in Jharkhand, and one in Manipur and Meghalaya are getting vacated. But due to lockdown the politicians who were aspiring for these chairs will have to wait a little more.
Despite seats being vacant there is no sign of election for them. In the history of these states the seats never remained vacant. The election commission had given March 26 as date for the election and the contenders had filed nominations too for the 18 seats in six states.
Now that the election has been deferred the election commission will have to come up with a new date. But with the number of coronavirus cases coming up it is ascertained the elections will cross the month. Those who now the political history say this will be the first occasion when Rajya Sabha seat shall remain vacant with elections due. And this in all 7 states. Though in Assam and jammu and Kashimir had such a situation on one occasion.
If constitutional experts are to be believed then once in Assam elections could not be held on and parliamentary seat as no assembly existed then there hence elections could not be done. Another occasion was in Jammu and Kashmir when due to disturbance the elections were not conducted.
Though the election commission starts election process before the seat falls vacant so that the seat does not remain vacant. The elections commission had on February 25 announced elections upon 55 Rajya Sabha seats on March 26. But with the coronavirus spread it has been postponed for next favourable situation. Against 37 seats people have been elected unopposed. They have been given certificate but could not take oath of office.
