“We Will Wait”: CEC on ByElection in Rahul Gandhi’s Wayanad Seat

New Delhi: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Wednesday said that the commission will wait before announcing byelection in the Wayanad parliamentary constituency. As per the CEC, the trial court has given 30-days time to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for judicial remedy after he was convicted in a criminal defamation case and was disqualified from Lok sabha because of it.

“We have six months’ time to hold a by-election after a seat falls vacant. The trial court has given 30 days time for judicial remedy. So, we will wait,” Kumar said during the press conference called up to announce poll dates for Karnataka assembly elections.

Rahul Gandhi was disqualified as MP from Lok Sabha on March 24 following his conviction by the Surat court in a criminal defamation case for the ‘Modi surname’ remark.

Answering a question about the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) status as a national party, the CEC said that its status is under review by the Commission. Regarding assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the CEC said that the commission is aware of the “vacuum” which needs to be filled.

The CEC announced the schedule for the Karnataka Assembly elections.

The polling would take place in a single phase on May 10, and the counting of votes will be done on May 13.