EC likely to announce LS election dates next week

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission is expected to announce the Lok Sabha elections in the first week on March. Elections to the assemblies of Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Sikkim will be held anlongwith the LS elections. The announcement will be made after EC���s meeting with the Union home ministry officials this week. The model code of conduct will come into force on announcement of polls.

The home ministry is already working on the force deployment logistics. It may offer nearly 877 companies of central paramilitary forces as demanded by EC. The home secretary had offered 750 companies for election duty during his interaction with the commission on January 6.

Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami and other two election commissioners Navin Chawla and SY Quraishi will also meet telecom secretary on Monday to augment communication network, a crucial input for better election management, an EC official said.

The countdown for the Lok Sabha polls has already begun with the EC meeting leaders of political parties, followed by a meeting with chief electoral officers (CEOs) as part of efforts to gear up for the general elections. In the meeting with the CEOs, the commission reviewed the progress in the preparation and distribution of photo I-cards, availability of electronic voting machines and polling personnel, their training and observer management.

The electoral rolls are ready in all the states except three ��� Assam, Nagaland and Jammu and Kashmir ��� as of January 22. The commission reviewed the status of enrolment of service personnel and directed the CEOs to maximise the enrolment of service personnel through special campaigns conducted within military stations within their states.

As part of efforts to ensure clean elections, the EC has directed the chief secretaries and the DGPs to transfer forthwith all officials posted at one place for over three years or deputed in their home districts and sought a compliance report by February 28.