UP assembly poll likely in April-May

Lucknow, Dec 29 (UNI) With the announcement of assembly poll dates of Punjab, Uttarakhand and Manipur, it seems that the crucial Uttar Pradesh assembly poll will be held between April and May.

The Election Commission (EC) decision for not holding the UP poll along with other three states has, however, is a jolt to the ruling Samajwadi Party as the Mulayam Singh Yadav government had urged the EC to hold the election in February.

EC today announced the dates of polling in Uttarakhand, Manipur and Punjab in New Delhi.

UP election office sources here today said the commission is busy in the publication of electoral rolls in UP slated for January 3.

''The dates of the UP poll are certain to be decided after the publication of the electoral rolls and the election will be held before the tenure of the present assembly expires on May 14 as repeatedly mentioned by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) N Gopalaswamy,'' sources added.

However, most of the opposition parties including the Congress, BJP and the BSP have welcomed the EC decision for not holding the UP election with other states.

''EC will require adequate number of central forces to conduct fair election in UP. Hence, it has to be held separately when there is the availability of forces,'' a senior BJP leader observed.

EC had announced the previous UP assembly election on December 26, 2001 and held the poll in three-phases on February 14, 18 and 21, 2002.

But, no political party could win absolute majority in the 403-member assembly then. Hence, President's rule was enforced until May, when present BSP chief Mayawati became the Chief Minister with the support of BJP.

This will be the second time the UP assembly election is being delayed. The 2002 assembly poll was held six months late as the first sitting of the state assembly after the 1996 poll was held in March 1997.

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