Jaipur, Feb 26: Naxalism-affected areas in six states may have Lok Sabha elections on a single date, Election Commissioner N Gopalaswamy indicated today. Interaction with reporters here, he said the EC was concerned over the possibility of Naxalites trying to disrupt polling in parts of Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
Citing examples of Naxalites striking across state boundaries, he said polling on a single date in these areas may help localise their influence.
Gopalaswamy, however, smiled away questions on when the poll dates would be announced. ''tomorrow is the last working day in this month,'' he quipped when asked if the poll dates could be announced this month itself.
Earlier, making a valedictory speech at a ''training programme in electoral managament and administration'', attended by electoral officers from 12 states, he called upon the officials to make all efforts to ensure free and fair elections.
Bureau Report