AGP urges CEC to hold polls in four phases

Guwahati, Feb 2 (PTI) The opposition Asom GanaParishad today urged the Chief Election Commissioner to holdthe forthcoming assembly polls in the state in four phases inview of the alleged deteriorating law and order situation.

AGP President Chandra Mohan Patowary said in apresentation before CEC S Y Qureshi that elections in thestate should be held in four phases with adequate deploymentof security forces in view of the law and order situationcoupled with militant activities and ethnic clashes.

The AGP also demanded the abolition of ElectronicVoting Machines (EVMs) as it has failed on several occasionsbefore and urged that the forthcoming polls be held throughballot paper.

Patowary urged the CEC to hold the elections beforeRongali Bihu festival beginning on April 13 as the peoplewould be involved in the festivities and the rainy seasonstarts in the state by mdi-April.

''''Open display of both licensed and unlicensedfirearms are common in the state under the present regime andwe strongly demand that all such firearms should be seizedimmediately to hold free and fair elections in the state'''',Patowary alleged.

The party President also demanded a thorough scrutinyof officials in key positions in both civil and policeadministration in different districts with partisan attitudetowards the ruling party.