The Election Commission is ready to hold bypolls soon for the vacancies caused by the expulsion of 10 Lok Sabha members of Parliament after they were caught on-camera in the cash-for-query scam. The EC is currently waiting for the finalisation of the ongoing exercise of electoral rolls.
"We are free to hold by-elections. In most of the states, the revision of electoral rolls is going on and the final publication is likely next month. After the revision is over, the commission may take a decision on conducting the by-elections," EC sources said.
This is, perhaps for the first time when the EC would be conducting so many bypolls for the Lok Sabha, the sources said.
After the MPs were expelled by the Lok Sabha last Friday, the Lok Sabha Secretariat had issued a notification soon after and had intimated the EC on that day itself about the action against the 10 members.
"On Friday itself the notification was issued and a copy sent to the EC. The government of India has also been informed so as to issue a gazette notification. Effectively the seats have fallen vacant," Lok Sabha Secretariat sources said.
Consequent on the adoption of a motion by the Lok Sabha expelling them, the 10 ceased to be members of the Lok Sabha with effect from December 23, the Lok Sabha notification said.
The Lok Sabha inquiry committee had ruled that the continuance of the 10 members had become "untenable" in view of their conduct, which was "unbecoming" of members of Parliament and recommended their expulsion from the House.