Other States - Uttar Pradesh   

No decision on dates

Special Correspondent

Only after publication of electoral rolls, says CEC in Lucknow

Photo: Subir Roy

TAKING STOCK: Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswamy at a meeting of election commissioners in Lucknow on Thursday.

LUCKNOW: The schedule for next year's Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh will be announced after the final publication of revised electoral rolls on January 3, 2007. Without committing himself to the probable dates and the number of phases in which the polls would be held, the Chief Election Commissioner, N. Gopalaswamy, however said that he would be hauled up for contempt of the Constitution if the elections are held after May 14, 2007 (the cut-off date for the constitution of the new Assembly).

Mr. Gopalaswamy concluded his two-day visit to Lucknow on Thursday and would be holding preliminary discussions with the Election Commissioners in New Delhi in the next couple of days before coming to a decision.

Though the CEC did not review the law and order situation in the State and would assess the "inputs at the appropriate time", he would be visiting the 17 divisional commissioners along with the two ECs over the next one month when the Election Commission is likely to assess the situation.

The CEC arrived here on Wednesday night and met representatives of political parties as well as the divisional commissioners on Thursday to discuss the probable election schedule and the progress in the revision of rolls and electronic photo identity cards for voters.

While the representatives of the ruling Samajwadi Party and some other parties preferred the elections to be held between mid-February and mid-March, the other parties favoured a later date (some time in April). They cited the Ardh Kumbh in Allahahad, which begins in the first week of January next year, and the Intermediate and High School Board examinations in March for the elections to be deferred till after March.

Assuring that the elections would be held in a free, fair, and impartial manner, Mr. Gopalaswamy told reporters that several aspects had to be considered before finalising the election schedule. Finalisation of the voters' list and photo identity cards was a priority area as well as need to induct paramilitary forces.

The CEC said the political parties were unanimous that Central forces should be deployed in addition to the civil police for ensuring free and fair elections. "Availability of adequate force is a critical input," he said.

Mr. Gopalaswamy admitted that he had received a letter from the Chief Minister for holding the elections in February-March 2007 and added that regardless of C M's suggestion final decision would be that of the Election Commission.

The CEC said he had not reviewed law and order situation and refused to form an assessment based on the versions of the political parties.

He said around 50 lakh applications for inducting new names in voters' list and over 10 lakh objections had been received by the Commission.

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