Poll panel meets to finalise dates for assembly elections
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The Election Commission of India on Saturday met to finalise dates for six assembly polls due by the end of 2008.
“Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami met election commissioners and deputy election commissioners to discuss and decide final dates for the elections coming up in six states,” a senior officer said.
“In all probability, election dates for the states, including Jammu and Kashmir, will be announced on Monday,” the officer said.
Assembly elections to six states - Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Jammu and Kashmir are due by end of 2008.
Jammu and Kashmir is under governor's rule since July 11, when the former Congress-led coalition government was toppled and assembly dissolved after coalition partner Peoples Democratic Party withdrew its support to then chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.
The assembly elections in the six states would be a dress rehearsal before the Lok Sabha election due in 2009.
Assembly polls in J&K
The Election Commission on Saturday held discussions on holding assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, amid indications that a decision may be announced early next week.
Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami and the other two Election Commissioners Navin Chawla and S Y Quraishi met to assess the situation in the sensitive state.
However, EC sources refused to give any indications about the possible date.
Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta had briefed the EC on Friday on the availability of the security forces and the government's readiness to hold the elections on time.
Government sources had said the polling is likely to be staggered in three to four phases to facilitate smooth movement of security personnel for holding peaceful polling.
The EC's meeting with top Home Ministry officials took place after the panel returned here following a two-day visit to the state this week when it met various political parties to elicit their views on the timing of the elections.
The EC delegation had also met senior civil and police officials in the state to review the poll preparations.
During the discussions the EC had with political parties in Srinagar, Kashmir-based parties said they would abide by the decision of the Commission though they claimed that the current atmosphere was not conducive for the elections.
The BJP and the Left wanted immediate elections while the Congress said it was the Commission's call.
“Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami met election commissioners and deputy election commissioners to discuss and decide final dates for the elections coming up in six states,” a senior officer said.
“In all probability, election dates for the states, including Jammu and Kashmir, will be announced on Monday,” the officer said.
Assembly elections to six states - Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Jammu and Kashmir are due by end of 2008.
Jammu and Kashmir is under governor's rule since July 11, when the former Congress-led coalition government was toppled and assembly dissolved after coalition partner Peoples Democratic Party withdrew its support to then chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.
The assembly elections in the six states would be a dress rehearsal before the Lok Sabha election due in 2009.
Assembly polls in J&K
The Election Commission on Saturday held discussions on holding assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, amid indications that a decision may be announced early next week.
Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami and the other two Election Commissioners Navin Chawla and S Y Quraishi met to assess the situation in the sensitive state.
However, EC sources refused to give any indications about the possible date.
Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta had briefed the EC on Friday on the availability of the security forces and the government's readiness to hold the elections on time.
Government sources had said the polling is likely to be staggered in three to four phases to facilitate smooth movement of security personnel for holding peaceful polling.
The EC's meeting with top Home Ministry officials took place after the panel returned here following a two-day visit to the state this week when it met various political parties to elicit their views on the timing of the elections.
The EC delegation had also met senior civil and police officials in the state to review the poll preparations.
During the discussions the EC had with political parties in Srinagar, Kashmir-based parties said they would abide by the decision of the Commission though they claimed that the current atmosphere was not conducive for the elections.
The BJP and the Left wanted immediate elections while the Congress said it was the Commission's call.
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