Page 212 - Leap of Faith Vol - 2

Leap of Faith Journey of Indian Elections

Members of the Parliament standing
in a queue to cast their vote for
Presidential election in New Delhi
on May 6, 1967

The first mid-term Presidential and Vice Presidential vacancies in the Houses of Parliament as well as in the
elections were held in July and August, 1969 respectively. Legislative Assemblies of the states as possible that a
It was necessitated by the sudden passing away of third maximum number of elected MPs and MLAs could
President of India viz. Dr. Zakir Husain on May 3, 1969. participate in the Presidential election. The ballot boxes
Under Article 65 (1) of the Constitution, the Vice President for Presidential election were duly repaired and repainted
V.V. Giri assumed the office of the President. However, before being despatched at appropriate time to
under Article 62 (2) of the Constitution, an election to fill a respective state capitals that members of the electoral
college might participate in the election.
vacancy in the office of President occurring for reasons of
death, resignation, removal or otherwise is required to be An innovation was introduced to ensure strict secrecy of
held within six months of the occurrence of the vacancy. the polls. The serial numbers on the back of the ballot
Thus, the preliminary steps to conduct the elections were papers were covered with coloured papers pasted at four
immediately started. The tragedy had occurred at a time corners. This arrangement, however, could not be done
when between the fourth and fifth general elections, for only one Legislative Assembly viz. Uttar Pradesh where
several states experienced unstable governments and telegraphic communication containing the direction was
received late. In a departure from existing practice,
premature dissolution of the Legislative Assemblies.
elected members of state Legislative Assemblies, if need
Therefore, as the then Chief Election Commissioner be, were allowed to cast their votes in Parliament House.
(1967-1972) S.P. Sen-Varma informs, Election Commission Previously, the things happened the other way. The
had to take immediate steps to fill in as many existing elected Members of Parliament were allowed to vote in

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