EC meets Chief Electoral Officer UP regarding fair polls in state

New Delhi, Mar 6 (UNI) The Election Commission today had a detailed meeting with the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Uttar Pradesh Anuj Kumar Bishnoi for over one hour regarding the holding of free and fair elections in the state.

The EC had earlier summoned the CEO in the wake of large number of complants from political parties, non-governmental organisations and individuals expressing fear that it would not be possible to conduct free and fair elections in the state if polls were held under some senior administrative and police officials, who are said to be close to the present government in UP, EC sources said.

The meetng also discussed the overall security scenario and the deployment of Central Para Military Forces that would be required to conduct the assembly elections in seven phases in Uttar Pradesh, sources added.

It was also decided Election Commissioner Navin Chawla will visit the highly sensitive area of Meerut in Western Uttar Pradesh, sources said.

Similarly, Deputy Election Commissioner (DEC) Balakrishnan will visit Saharanpur to make an on-the-spot assesment of the law and order situation in the highly sensitive region, The DEC also held a crucial meeting on the trnsfer of senior administrative and police officials in UP. This meet also finalised the names of the officials who would mostly likely to be transferred for the conduct of smooth, free and fair elections in the state, the sources added.

UNI