PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 533
Ordinarily, if there is nothing to the contrary, then the date of nomination would be the date of the commencement of the election. But they say it is perfectly possible for a candidate long before the election takes place to publicly announce that he is going to be a candidate. He may not only announce, but may incur some expenditure in order to steal a march over some other candidate. If that is so, then the date on which he has announced himself publicly as a candidate shall be the date of commencement of election in his case.
Dr. C. D. Pande (Uttar Pradesh) : Then everybody will have his own date.
Dr. Ambedkar: I suppose so. Sir, that is all that I have to say.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: After the Minister’s statement today nobody will announce his candidature openly.
Shri Sondhi (Punjab) : There are some people who have already announced it in Delhi—what about them ?
Dr. Ambedkar : I have nothing to add to what I have said and I commend the motion to the House.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Motion moved:
“ That the Bill to provide for the conduct of elections to the Houses of Parliament and to the House or Houses of the Legislature of each State, the qualifications and disqualifications for membership of those Houses, the corrupt and legal practices and other offences at or in connection with such elections and the decision of doubts arid disputes arising out of or in connection with such elections, as reported by the Select Committee, be taken into consideration.”
I was the Chairman of the Select Committee on the Bill, and as such may I make a suggestion for the consideration of the House. There is no one single principle running through the whole Bill. There are various points dealt with in different clauses to which the Hon. Minister for Law referred. Therefore, to cut short the discussion on this Bill—if the House is agreeable—I will put the consideration motion to the House and then the real discussion will begin on the clauses.
Some hon. Members: No, no.