EC firm on conducing free and fair UP poll

Bareilly, Apr 10 (UNI) Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) N Gopalaswamy today asserted that despite all criticisms, Election Commission (EC) would conduct the ongoing Uttar Pradesh assembly poll in a free and fair manner.

Talking to newspersons here, Mr Gopalaswamy admitted that the strict measures taken by EC had come under heavy criticism, but he was undeterred by it.

''EC will discharge its duty of conducting the poll in a free and fair manner at every cost. We will not tolerate any violation of model code of conduct,'' he said.

He was taking stock of poll preparedness in Bareilly, Moradabad and Kanpur divisions for the third phase UP polling on April 18.

UNI