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LS poll schedule likely to be announced this week
New Delhi, Feb 15: The schedule for the Lok Sabha polls is expected to be announced by the Election Commission this week.
New Delhi, Feb 15: The schedule for the Lok Sabha polls is expected to be announced by the Election Commission this week.
The last meeting in the series of consultations lined up by the Commission is with all recognised political parties on February 20 and any time after that the schedule is likely to be unveiled by the Commission, EC sources said.
Indications available from Nirvachan Sadan are that polling would be held in a phased manner from the middle of April and completed by first week of May.
A crucial meeting with Union Home Secretary Anil Baijal slated for February 19 would help the Commission finalise the poll schedule given the fact that adequate deployment of the security forces necessitates their movement from one State to another.
The sources said the poll schedule would be drawn up in such a manner so as not to inconvenience the students as school examinations, including those of the CBSE, would be over by second week of April.
The three-member poll panel headed by Chief Election Commissioner TS Krishna Murthy had already discussed poll preparations with Chief Secretaries, DGPs and CEOs from 13 States and Union Territories and the next round of talks with top officials from 16 states was scheduled on February 16.
Poll preparations and security scenario in the sensitive Jammu and Kashmir would be discussed separately on February 17.
Though Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Sikkim have so far opted for simultaneous elections, indications are that Karnataka would follow suit.
Though the term of the Maharashtra legislative assembly expires in October, Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde of the Congress and his major alliance partner NCP were opposed to simultaneous polls in the state.
A highlight of the General Elections this time was that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were being used all over the country for the first time.
As part of ensuring the polls to be free and fair, the Commission had already directed States and Union Territories to transfer officers who have completed four years in the same district and also ensure that no officer continues in his home district. Bureau Report
Indications available from Nirvachan Sadan are that polling would be held in a phased manner from the middle of April and completed by first week of May.
A crucial meeting with Union Home Secretary Anil Baijal slated for February 19 would help the Commission finalise the poll schedule given the fact that adequate deployment of the security forces necessitates their movement from one State to another.
The sources said the poll schedule would be drawn up in such a manner so as not to inconvenience the students as school examinations, including those of the CBSE, would be over by second week of April.
The three-member poll panel headed by Chief Election Commissioner TS Krishna Murthy had already discussed poll preparations with Chief Secretaries, DGPs and CEOs from 13 States and Union Territories and the next round of talks with top officials from 16 states was scheduled on February 16.
Poll preparations and security scenario in the sensitive Jammu and Kashmir would be discussed separately on February 17.
Though Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Sikkim have so far opted for simultaneous elections, indications are that Karnataka would follow suit.
Though the term of the Maharashtra legislative assembly expires in October, Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde of the Congress and his major alliance partner NCP were opposed to simultaneous polls in the state.
A highlight of the General Elections this time was that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were being used all over the country for the first time.
As part of ensuring the polls to be free and fair, the Commission had already directed States and Union Territories to transfer officers who have completed four years in the same district and also ensure that no officer continues in his home district. Bureau Report