Elections Commissioner to resign if PC polls not held before Nov 10

Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said that he would resign from his position as polls chief if the Provincial polls are not held before November 10.

"This move would show the people that I too am hurt as a citizen due to the delay in holding the polls," he told reporters today (Jan 28), during a press briefing at the Elections Secretariat.

Mr. Deshapriya said that almost everyone  was pointing fingers of blame at him for the delay in holding the polls.

He added that several requests by the Elections Commission (EC) to all recognised political parties in Parliament to resolve the issue pertaining to the elections system, have fallen on deaf ears.

"The Parliament is dodging this situation," he claimed.

The polls chief explained that he cannot file a case in courts since since doing so would mean the Attorney General would be named as a repondent in the case whereas the AG should represent the EC.

Therefore, he called on the public to file a case in courts and obtain a verdict on the delay in elections.