Mayawati tries the delay tactic for UP polls; EC to agree?

New Delhi, Dec 7: With Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati set to face some stiff competition in the upcoming Assembly elections in 2012, the results are most likely to be the game changer. With Maya for an all out war and hoping for a victory, she has requested the Election Commission of India (EC) to delay the

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Mayawati has requested for postponement of the polls citing that the campaigning will disrupt the students preparing for exams in March. The EC had earlier indicated that it may club polls as early as Feb-Mar in line with the polls scheduled in five states of Uttarakhand, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Goa and Manipur.

Chief Election Commissioner SY Qureshi had hinted on the move last Aug on clubbing together polls for states scheduled for elections. The effort has made various political parties wary. After the poll preparations for the states, the EC has to initiate preparations for polls for the post of the president and the vice-president.

A delay in the UP polls would mean that the country will be caught in the poll fever for almost half of the year, 2012.

Mayawati's original intention for the delaying tactic is meant to gather strength against the massive anti-Maya campaign launched by Cong General Sect Rahul Gandhi in UP. The Cong has already announced candidates for two-third seats; while BJP has carried out various yatras aiming at the vote bank.

The change in poll dates will have to be discussed with the Home Ministry, that is expected to be completed by Dec. Sources have claimed that the EC officials have already visited the poll-bound states and were satisfied with the arrangements.

As per the Representation of Peoples Act, the EC has the right to hold elections six months prior to completion of the term of a House where Uttar Pradesh is concerned any day after Nov 20 is possible as the Assembly term will be completed on May 20. In such a case, the UP polls will be clubbed along with polls in Goa.

OneIndia News