CEC to take stock of elections

Lucknow, Nov 21: Amid tussle between the ruling Samajwadi Party and the Congress over timing of the next assmebly polls in Uttar Pradesh, the Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalswamy would visit the state capital tomorrow to take stock of the poll preparations.

The two-day visit of the CEC asumes significance specially after Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav urged the EC to hold the polls in February. The CEC, after the visit, will be in a position to indicate the dates of all important assmebly polls in UP.

The term of the present assembly expires on May 14 and it is now well in the purview of the Election Commission to decide on the poll dates.

Meanwhile, the SP leadership in the state has been alleging that the Congress was opposed to the idea of having polls in February.

The CM has gone on record on several occasions saying the Congress is conspiring to dismiss his government to pave way for President's rule in UP.

Mr Gopalswamy, who arrives here tomorrow evening, would have official meetings on thursday . He would hold discussions with the representatives of the political parties followed by a meeting with the divisional commissioners and zonal IG and range DIGs of the state.

''The CEC will certainly take the views of the police department about the security aspect during the elections to be held sometime between February and May,'' UP election office sources said.

Sources said that the main concern of the EC would be the timely release of the electoral rolls slated on January 3.'' After receiving several complaints about the voter list, it is a hard task for the EC to publish an error free electoral rolls,'' sources added.

Siginificantly, the CEC will not stay at the Raj Bhawan as expected to avoid any speculation in view of the soured relations between Mulayam Singh Yadav-led government and the Governor T V Rajeswar. Instead, Mr Gopalswamy would be staying at the VVIP guest house like he did on an earlier occasion.

UNI