NEW DELHI: Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s visits to Meerut and Varanasi have been postponed. Senior Election Commission sources said the decision was taken on September 21 and had no connection with the controversy over reported differences within the poll panel.
The sources said district authorities in both Uttar Pradesh cities were informed by email. They said the visits were rescheduled because of logistical and local factors, as well as changes to the CEC’s official commitments.
Commission sources said visits to Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Ladakh had also been deferred. The Himachal Pradesh programme was put off because of the tourist season and examinations.
A youth interaction in Uttarakhand will be held after the SIR is completed, while the Ladakh programme was postponed following the Mansarovar disaster.
The sources said such events can draw up to 1,000 young people, so their timing depends on weather, local conditions and available resources. Some programmes were also deferred because of the CEC’s trip to Bhutan.
Responding to reports that a visit can cost up to Rs 1.5 crore, the sources said the expense is incurred only when an event takes place.
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