Cong, BJP to reiterate their positions over polls dates with CEC

Shimla, Oct 15 (UNI) The Congress and the BJP are likely to stick to their respective positions over the poll dates during their meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and two other members who are arriving here tomorrow to review preparations for the assembly elections.

While the Congress, which is demanding the re-scheduling of polls, has called the meeting of its district presidents and office bearers early tomorrow to chalk out its strategy before meeting the EC team, the BJP is likely to oppose the postponement.

Following a meeting of the Congress and BJP leaders with the CEC at New Delhi early today, the focus has now shifted back to Shimla where the leaders were likely to repeat their respective positions again with the commission members.

The Congress was seeking re-scheduling of elections on the plea that they are being held in winters and were likely to result in low voter turnout, besides giving rise to a piquant situation wherein the state would have two assemblies since the present term of the government would expire on March nine next year.

The Commission will hold a meeting with the representatives of the political leaders here tomorrow followed by a detailed meeting with the deputy commissioners, now returning officers, DIGs, SPs and division commissioners, state's Chief Electoral Officer Manisha Nanda said.

She said the commission would meet representatives of six political parties of Congress, BJP, CPM, CPI, BSP and the Nationlist Congress Party (NCP) here.

The meeting with the DCs and senior police officials would focus on poll arrangements law and order situation in the state.

The Election Commission would also hold a meeting with State Chief Secretary Ravi Dhingra, Principal Secretary (home) and other senior officials before returning to Delhi the next day, official sources said.

Earlier, senior Congress leader and state incharge RK Dhawan and state Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh met the CEC in New Delhi and urged it to re-consider its poll schedule for the state, while the BJP delegation led by its vice president opposed any such move.

UNI