Jharkhand Rajya Sabha poll before presidential election: CEC

Chief election commissioner SY Quraishi today said the commission would like to hold Rajya Sabha polls for Jharkhand before the presidential elections.

Chief election commissioner SY Quraishi today said the commission would like to hold Rajya Sabha polls for Jharkhand before the presidential elections.

HT Image

"We would like to do it very soon to ensure the process is complete before presidential election so that these MPs can vote (in presidential elections)," Quraishi told CNN-IBN news channel.

The Rajya Sabha polls in Jharkhand were countermanded Friday after more than Rs.2 crore were seized from a car on the outskirts of Ranchi.

The car reportedly belonged to the kin of independent candidate R.K. Aggarwal, contesting the polls in the state. Five candidates were in the fray for two Rajya Sabha seats from the state.

Asked about action against the candidate, the poll panel chief said there was no law to bar a contestant.

"There is no law that debars candidates on this ground," Quraishi said, adding: "We have been demanding that at least people with criminal background be debarred."

The presidential election is likely to be held in July.