EC wants Assembly polls on time

Moving to hold elections on time in in four poll-bound states and one Union territory, the Election Commission has asked Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, West Bengal and Puducherry to complete publication of the electoral rolls by this month-end.

The poll panel is expected to announce poll dates shortly after consultations with West Bengal and Assam governments as it has already finished talks with the southern states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry, EC sources said.

While Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry’s Assembly polls might be complete by May, Assam and West Bengal elections might spread up to June in phases.

The present term of West Bengal Assembly (294 seats) expires on June 11.

Tamil Nadu’s (234) Assembly’s will be over on May 16, while for Kerala (140) it is May 23.

The Assam (126) and Puducherry (30) Assemblies have their terms till May 28.

The Commission would fix poll dates after talking to the respective governments keeping in mind the scheduled examinations, festivals, weather condition of the regions, availability of security personnel and sensitivity of the region and holidays.

EC sources said the chief electoral officers of the poll bound states had been asked to complete publication of the electoral rolls by January-end after the summary revision with January 1, 2011 being the cut-off date to include persons aged 18 and above as voters.

West Bengal and Kerala are ruled by the Left parties, Assam and Puducherry by the Congress. while Tamil Nadu is under DMK rule with Congress support.