Not in hurry: Poll body on Rahul Gandhi's Wayanad seat

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday said that they are in no hurry to declare byelection in Kerala's Wayanad Lok Sabha seat. It should be noted that the parliamentary seat fell vacant following Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as a Member of the Parliament (MP).

Meanwhile, the trial court has given Rahul Gandhi, who was disqualified as member, one month to file an appeal.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said the poll panel has taken decisions on vacancies that have occurred till February.

Addressing a press conference, the CEC said the trial court in Surat has given Rahul Gandhi 30 days too seek a judicial remedy the matter.

''There is no hurry, we will wait. There is not hurry to do it before exhausting that particular remedy which the trial court had accorded. We will take a call after that,'' CEC Kumar said. He said the vacancy in the Wayanad parliamentary party was notified on March 23 this year and as per the law, a bypoll has to be conducted within six months.

''According to the Representatìon of People Act section 151, whenever there is a vacancy, bypolls have to be announced in 6 months from the date of notification of vacancy. In this case it was March 23, we have six months,'' CEC Kumar said.

CEC Kumar said the law also states that if the remainder of the term was less than one year, then the election will not be held.

The CEC said that in the case of Wayanad, the remainder of the term is more than a year.