The National Communist Party (NCP) on Tuesday slammed the election commission for not announcing the dates for the Gujarat assembly polls.
"I don't think that the Chief Election Commissioner was expected to say that there is pressure. It is absolutely ridiculous to expect that he would say that he working under pressure. He is bound to say so because he is part of it. He is equally guilty of succumbing to pressure and we have been finding day-in, day-out now that why Gujarat schedule is being differed. Every day is important. You have no justifiable reason. You say Diwali, or flood; all these are excuses which appear lame," said Majid Memon.
"Everyday some of the gifts, incentives are being announced by the Centre because it is having great interest in Gujarat. Prime Minister is from Gujarat and therefore the election commission is deemed to be under pressure," Memon added.
Achal Kumar Joti, the Chief Election Commissioner, had, on Monday, rejected the opposition's charge that the country's top election body was working under the pressure of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
"No, I am not under any sort of pressure. The opposition can only question us if we stop them from campaigning. The opportunities are equal for all. All parties make poll promises, even the opposition parties are promising lot of things we are not stopping anybody," Joti said.
The opposition has been criticising the EC for not announcing the dates for the Gujarat Assembly elections since October 13, when it announced November 9 as the date for Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls.
"I don't think that the Chief Election Commissioner was expected to say that there is pressure. It is absolutely ridiculous to expect that he would say that he working under pressure. He is bound to say so because he is part of it. He is equally guilty of succumbing to pressure and we have been finding day-in, day-out now that why Gujarat schedule is being differed. Every day is important. You have no justifiable reason. You say Diwali, or flood; all these are excuses which appear lame," said Majid Memon.
"Everyday some of the gifts, incentives are being announced by the Centre because it is having great interest in Gujarat. Prime Minister is from Gujarat and therefore the election commission is deemed to be under pressure," Memon added.
Achal Kumar Joti, the Chief Election Commissioner, had, on Monday, rejected the opposition's charge that the country's top election body was working under the pressure of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
"No, I am not under any sort of pressure. The opposition can only question us if we stop them from campaigning. The opportunities are equal for all. All parties make poll promises, even the opposition parties are promising lot of things we are not stopping anybody," Joti said.
The opposition has been criticising the EC for not announcing the dates for the Gujarat Assembly elections since October 13, when it announced November 9 as the date for Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls.
