With the split in the Congress, all eyes are on the Election Commission. There is less than a week left before the date for the nomination of direct candidates for the House of Representatives elections to be held on 21 Falgun.

There is general interest in which party will now receive official recognition from the commission. Some are also concerned that the Congress controversy will disrupt the atmosphere of the upcoming elections. In this context, Kantipur had a brief conversation with former Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhiprasad Yadav –

A controversy has been seen in the Congress party on the eve of the elections. How will this affect the elections?

The Election Commission has prepared for the elections with the help of the government. The processes have moved forward. A controversy within a party does not affect the elections itself. This is the problem of the party concerned. It is up to that party to affect it. But the controversy in the oldest and most democratic party of the country has certainly increased doubts among the general voters and Congress workers about the elections.

This time, the elections were announced under special circumstances. How will the Congress controversy affect the political atmosphere that is slowly building for the elections?

The dispute within the Congress is definitely not a good aspect for this election. It may affect the voting. When there is a dispute in a party that gets 30-32 percent of the vote, it will definitely affect the political environment. But the Election Commission has made a lot of preparations. The nomination of proportional candidates has been done, the ballot papers have started being printed. The staff is being mobilized. The nomination for the direct route has come. In such a situation, the election will not be stopped, nor should it be stopped. But the dispute in the Congress will weaken the political environment of the election.

The candidacy for the direct route will have to be nominated on 6th Magh. Meanwhile, the dispute in the Congress is reaching the Commission. What should the Commission do in such a situation?

First of all, if there is a dispute in the party, the loss will be on the concerned party. It is important for them to understand that. Even now, they have to resolve their internal disputes and go to the elections. If they cannot resolve it themselves, the responsibility of resolving the dispute will fall to the Commission. In such a situation, the Commission must give a decision. There is pressure of time. The Commission should take decisions on a fast track, and work day and night without saying anything. Such an old and powerful party cannot be kept away from the elections.

You have certainly been watching the Congress dispute, what do you think of this dispute?

This is not a matter of party division. It is a question of whether the decision of the Central Committee is considered official or that of the general convention. The Commission will see in what form the dispute enters the Commission. The process of division or the process of resolving disputes over party authority is long. If it enters into it, the Congress will have problems going to the elections. It is the election period now. At such a time, a way to give a quick decision should be chosen.