EC on a clean-UP drive ahead of poll

NEW DELHI: After setting in motion the poll process in three states, the Election Commission has now focussed on the politically-sensitive Uttar Pradesh by sending a batch of 21 observers to the state to review the arrangements from Monday.

This is the second time that the Commission is sending its observers to the state, where it has already removed over 25 lakh dead and shifted voters from the electoral rolls.

The observers would spread out to various districts from Monday for four days to oversee the work related to revision of electoral rolls with special focus on the electoral photo identity cards (EPICs), EC sources said.

While the deadline for the final publication of electoral rolls has been extended till January 15, efforts would be made to maximise EPIC coverage from the current 65%, they said. The observers would brief the Commission on their return on January 12.

The Commission had earlier said the feedback from the observers on the basis of their first visit last month showed that there were many areas of concern that warrant EC’s intervention.

Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswamy and the other Election Commissioners have made several visits to the state to review preparations for the Assembly polls.

The commission had announced the election schedule for Punjab, Uttarakhand and Manipur last month while maintaining the suspense on the poll date for the crucial state of UP. The CEC had said the Commission would assess how and when the elections could be held in the state, side-stepping questions on the issue.

While the ruling Samajwadi Party favoured an early poll, various political parties demanded imposition of President’s rule in view of the law and order situation in the state and to ensure free and fair polls.