SEC Fiat illegal: CPM

BHUBANESWAR: The Opposition parties have strongly opposed the direction of the State Election Commission (SEC) to candidates, contesting for ward member, sarpanch and  samiti member posts, not to use party symbols.  ‘’The restriction imposed by the SEC is not only undemocratic but illegal,’’ said State CPM leader Santosh Das. The Constitution has recognised multi-party system and this cannot be violated by the SEC. The Orissa Gram Panchayat and Panchayat Samiti Act does not prohibit candidates from contesting elections on party basis, he said. How could the SEC allow election to be fought on party basis for only one tier of the three-tier panchayat election, Das wondered. Zilla Parishad elections will be fought on party basis.  He said a candidate needs the support of a political party or democratic organisation to win an election. Similarly, the political parties have the right to support candidates of their choice. The SEC cannot take away these rights either from the contestants or from the political parties. Otherwise, democracy will be undermined, he remarked.  The CPM urged the SEC to rescind its January 19 order and allow panchayat election to be conducted on party basis. If the election will be fought on party lines and anti-defection law enforced, horse- trading during indirect election to panchayat samitis could be checked. If necessary, the SEC should amend laws to facilitate election on party basis at all levels of the panchayati raj system, Das said.  The Congress and the BJP have also protested the SEC’s directive.