Putting an end to the controversy pertaining to impending constitutional crisis in Himachal Pradesh, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) N Gopalaswamy on Thursday said here that the Virbhadra government can complete its full term till March 9, 2008.“The Constitution is very clear on this issue.Two assemblies can co-exist. After the elections, there will be no constitutional crisis in the state,” he said before returning to Delhi, after a two-day visit to the state. The term of the state assembly will end on March 9, 2008. However, the election process in Himachal Pradesh will be over by December 30, 2007. Thus, even if the Congress is voted out of power, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh will have the constitutional right to remain in saddle till March 9, 2008. The CEC parried direct questions on political fall-outs of such a situation wherein elected members of other political parties may create problems in the smooth functioning of the government, which otherwise will have more than two months to stay in power. “I am not concerned about such a situation,” he said and hurriedly added that the new House can’t be constituted prior to the end of the current assembly’s term.The CEC’s announcement is likely to make the BJP uncomfortable as the party is preparing to take-over the reins of the government immediately after the results, in case its gets a complete majority. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has been maintaining that he can’t be thrown out of power because of early elections. “I am sure the Congress will return to power. In case it doesn’t happen, I will be acting within my rights to complete my unfinished agenda and stay in power till the House is dissolved or the five-year term is complete,” he said.Gopalaswamy, however, disagreed to the Chief Minister’s earlier claims about an impending constitutional crisis as a ground for postponement of the elections.On Thursday, the CEC quoted a statement made by R K Dhawan, AICC in-charge for Himachal Pradesh, who had claimed that constitutional provisions permit the state government to complete its term. Dhawan cited a similar situation in Tamil Nadu where the state government was allowed to complete its full-term. Elections in Himachal Pradesh are being held about three months in advance to facilitate voting for three assembly seats of Kinnaur, Lahaul & Spiti and Bharmour along with the rest of the state. All high altitude passes that connect these areas to the rest of the state are official closed on November 15. Polling in these three constituencies were held on November 14. In the rest of the 65 assembly constituencies, elections are slated for December 19.
