New Delhi, Sept. 25 -- The Election Commission has postponed two voter-awareness programmes in Uttar Pradesh that were scheduled to feature Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The poll panel has clarified that the decision has no connection with the recent controversy over reported differences within the three-member commission.
The two programmes, organised under the Electoral Literacy Club (ELC) 2.0 initiative, were scheduled in Meerut and Varanasi. Kumar was expected to interact with young and first-time voters as part of the Election Commission's efforts to promote electoral awareness and participation.
The Meerut conference was scheduled for September 25, while the Varanasi programme was scheduled for September 28. Both events are part of the wider voter-awareness campaign being conducted ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election.
According to the Election Commission, the decision to postpone the two programmes was taken on September 21 and communicated to officials on the same day. The poll panel said such changes are routine and can happen because of factors including venue availability, the schedules of senior officials and natural circumstances.
The Commission also pointed to previous instances in which ELC conferences were postponed or rescheduled in states and Union Territories including Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh and Uttarakhand.
The ELC 2.0 initiative is being implemented through regional conferences across the country to improve electoral awareness among students and young voters. The Election Commission has said that postponing the Meerut and Varanasi programmes does not represent any change in its broader voter-awareness campaign.
The decision to defer the events has attracted attention because it comes amid reports of differences within the Election Commission.
Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi have reportedly raised objections on at least 14 occasions over a period of 10 months on issues related to electoral rolls and voter registration. The Election Commission has acknowledged the existence of internal notes but has maintained that differences of opinion are part of institutional deliberations and that final decisions of the full commission have been unanimous.
The reported disagreements have led to increased political scrutiny of the functioning of the poll panel, with Opposition leaders questioning its decision-making process.
The Election Commission, however, has rejected any connection between the postponement of Kumar's Uttar Pradesh programmes and the ongoing controversy. It has maintained that the two events were deferred as part of routine administrative changes and that its wider voter-awareness activities remain unaffected.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.