1042 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
Dr. Ambedkar: They will be settled in sufficient time to enable the elections to take place in the period prescribed.
(35)
*GENERAL ELECTIONS
4553. Shri Sidhva: (a) Will the Minister of Law be pleased to state whether besides the Government of Madras, it is a fact that the Orissa Government has suggested to the Union Government that the General Elections should be held in January-February, 1952 ?
(b) If so, what reply has been sent by the Union Government to the Orissa Government ?
The Minister of Law (Dr. Ambedkar): (a) and (b) A communication was received by the Election Commission from the Orissa Government pointing out certain difficulties in fixing a common period of polling for all the districts in that State within the months of November-December, 1951 and suggesting that from this point of view January-February might be more suitable. The State Government had however expressed their willingness to adhere to the November-December time-table, provided polling could be held in some parts of the State in the latter half of November and in the remaining parts from
10th to 22nd December, 1951. The Election Commission has replied to the State Government that the programme for polling can in no circumstances be allowed to go beyond December,
1951 and that the Commission has no objection to the polling being spread over November-December as proposed though efforts should be made to reduce the total period of polling to four weeks if possible.
Shri Sidhva: As definite months have been fixed by the Government, may I know whether there is any likelihood of a change in those months ?
Dr. Ambedkar: As at present situated there is no likelihood of change but I cannot say what may happen in the future.
Mr. Speaker: I may say the question to confined is Orissa.
*P. D., Vol. 8, Part I, 26th May 1951, p. 4684.