Decision on Hailakandi repoll next month: EC

Silchar, Jan 21 (UNI) State Election Commissioner Chandra Kanta Sharma today said any decision about repoll in Hailakandi district of Assam will be announced in the first week of February.

Addressing a press conference in Hailakandi, Mr Sharma refused to say if a repoll would be held in 309 polling booths or a fresh election in the entire district would take place.

The counting of votes for rural election will complete over on January 28 in the state and thereafter, a decision about Hailakandi will be announced,'' he added.

The state Election Commissioner, who arrived here yesterday to take stock of the situation in the district, where the January 9 rural election was marred by large-scale violence and rigging, blamed the administration for all the trouble.

He said conducting election was a commissioner's responsibility, but it required full cooperation from the administration, which was absent in case of Hailakandi.

Earlier, the State Election Commission ordered repoll in 309 booths in the district.

UNI XC KK/src SG BD1922