Poll dates not finalised, still at planning stage: CEC

Panaji: The Election Commission of India is still at the "planning stage" as far as the finalisation of dates for the upcoming state Assembly Elections to five states, Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi said on Thursday.

"We are still at a planning stage. We are taking a number of inputs regarding the availability of security forces and various other factors like examinations. We are in consultation with various (Education) boards.

"We are also looking into climatological factors in and many other things like level of preparedness, etc," Zaidi told reporters after reviewing poll preparations in Goa, which along with Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Manipur are expected to go to polls early next year.

"The Commission will not be able to tell you scheduling, phasing etc at this point in time," he also said.