Lucknow division seeks more time for voters' list from CEC

Lucknow, Dec 20 (UNI) The publication of of voters' list in the six districts of Lucknow division is likely to be delayed with officials seeking ''additional time'' from the Chief Election Commissioner for the same.

Sources privy to the review meetings by election commission officials in Uttar Pradesh said other divisions too have sought additional time for publication of voters' list.

Soon after CEC N Gopalaswami held a review meeting of the Lucknow division here, divisional commissioner R K Mittal told reporters that he has sought an additional week from the CEC for publication of the list. Minutes before, the CEC had told UNI that the work on the publication of voters' list would be ready by January three, 2007.

Lucknow division consists of Lucknow, Rae Bareli, Sitapur, Lakhimpur Kheri, Unnao and Sitapur districts. Later today, the CEC would review the election preparedness of Kanpur division here.

''We have sought time till January 10...he said he would think about it. Even if he does not agree, the list could be readied by January three,'' he added.

To a poser on the CEC's unhappiness over the slow pace of preparation of election photo identity cards (EPICs), Mr Mittal said there were practical problems in the process. ''In villages, EPICs issued some years ago have been lost or misplaced in certain cases,' he explained.

Meanwhile, Election Commissioners S Y Quaraishi and Navin Chawala were in Bareilly and Allahabad respectively on Monday to review the poll preprations there.

The CEC's visit assumes importance after 21 poll observers were deputed by the commission to give their report on the electoral rolls and other preparations for the coming assembly polls in the state early next year.

The feedback from the observers showed that though the introduction of booth-level officers proved effective in weeding out deceased voters, there were many areas of concern that warranted the EC's intervention, which had forced this visit.

Over 2.4 million names of dead and shifted voters have been removed from the rolls so far.

This is the third visit of the CEC to the state in last two months in connection with the electoral rolls and preparation for the assembly polls.

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