Page 110 - Leap of Faith Vol - 2

Leap of Faith Journey of Indian Elections

Dr. Gill oversaw the Twel h and Thirteenth Lok Sabha
Elec ons, which occurred in close succession in 1998 and
1999. This period witnessed the return of the Electronic
Vo ng Machine (EVM) into ac on a er almost a decade
and half. On November 26, 1998 EVMs were used in 16
select cons tuencies in legisla ve assembly elec ons in
Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and NCT of Delhi.
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The 12 Lok Sabha was the shortest in India's history,
las ng for a mere 399 days between March 10, 1998 and
April 26, 1999. The incumbent government resigned
a er losing the vote of confidence on April 17, 1999. A
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Presiden al proclama on dissolved the 12 Lok Sabha on
April 26, 1999 because no viable alterna ve could
emerge. It thus became impera ve for the Elec on
Commission to conduct the Thirteenth General Elec ons
in me so that a new Lok Sabha could be recons tuted on
or before October 21, 1999 in order to comply with the
Ar cle 85 of the Cons tu on.

For the first time in its 50-year history, the Election
Polling officials leaving for poll duty, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, 1998
Commission was confronted with the challenge of
holding Lok Sabha elections in the most difficult part of
the year. The inclement summer and the rainy season are
far from ideal election seasons. Almost all elections since
1951-52 had taken place in the period between
November and April or at most in May.
After intense deliberations, the Election Commission
decided to hold the elections in the month of September,
spilling into the first week of October, 1999. Majority of
the political parties, who held discussion with the
Commission on May 3, 1999 favoured the idea. The
decision was publicised through a Press Release on
May 4, without actual announcement of the poll
schedule, or implementation of Model Code of Conduct.
The decision was vindicated in hindsight, as an external
Let the ballot papers roll, 1998 security crisis loomed on the horizon.

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