Not satisfied with preparation of EPICs in UP: CEC

Lucknow, Dec 20 (UNI) Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami today said he was ''not satisfied'' with the speed of issuance of election photo identity cards (EPICs) in Uttar Pradesh.

Talking to UNI after holding a review meeting with officials of the Lucknow division here, the Chief Election Commissioner said the process of issuance of EPICs was slow in UP. But at the same time he expressed satisfaction at the pace of preparations of voters list in the State.

''Forty per cent work remains in photo identity cards' issuance,'' he said.

He maintained that the voters' list would be ready by January 3, 2007. He said the process of satisfying objections and complaints filed for glitches in the electoral rolls would be completed by January 3, following which the preparations for the poll process in UP would be given a final shape.

The CEC refused to entertain questions on the announcement of Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh or the number of phases held for it. ''Last time the Assembly polls were held in three phases...it would not be held in one phase,'' he said in a lighter vein.

Mr Gopalaswami is on a two-day visit to the State to review the preparations for the Assembly elections. Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav had recently requested the Election Commission to hold the Assembly elections in February, next year.

Yesterday, the CEC was in Faizabad to review the election preparations in East UP. This afternoon, he would review the progress of Kanpur division.

He said district level officials in the election-bound states who have completed three years, would be transferred out.

Mr Gopalaswami said governments would be asked to transfer out the officials at the district level who have completed three years of posting. Manipur, Uttrakhand and Punjab are set to go for the Assembly elections early next year.

In Faizabad yesterday, the CEC hinted at initiating against officials responsible for the delay in prepration of EPICs. ''The work for photo I cards would be completed by January 15, 2007,'' he added.

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

The CEC's visit assumed significance 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.

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

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

The final publication of electoral rolls would be made in the first week of January, next year.

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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