BANGALORE: The Government will request the State Election Commission to convene a meeting of the officials concerned to identify and sort out problems with regard to holding elections to the zilla and taluk panchayats before the election date is finalised, Minister for Science and Technology Basavaraj Horatti has said.

He told presspersons here on Thursday that owing to incessant rainfall and floods in some districts, many school buildings have been either damaged or submerged.

Many roads connecting district headquarters to villages have been damaged. According to the norms, private buildings and temporary structures cannot be used for election purposes. Therefore, the Government will have to get the school buildings and roads repaired before the elections are held.

In that context the Government wants the State Election Commission to interact with the officials suggest its requirements for holding the elections, he said. Asked about the time required for getting the buildings and roads repaired and the reported delay in getting relief funds from the Centre, Mr. Horatti said the State Government will get the repairs done with its funds once the State Election Commission states its requirements.

He asserted that the Government is not contemplating deferring the elections. The State Election Commission is aware of the problems caused by the floods.

Considering the time required to make preparations, the elections are likely to be held either in the second or last week of December, he said.

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