No change in poll dates: CEC

Chief election commission SY Quraishi on Sunday ruled out any change in the schedule announced for assembly elections in five states, saying a number of factors have been taken into account before finalising it.

Chief election commission SY Quraishi on Sunday ruled out any change in the schedule announced for assembly elections in five states, saying a number of factors have been taken into account before finalising it.

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"There is no question of rescheduling of dates already announced. We have taken everything into consideration," he told PTI a day after the schedule for five states was announced.

He was replying to a question about the possibility of a change in view of reservations expressed by Uttarakhand chief minister B C Khanduri about rains and snow in January in the hill state that could hamper polling.

Though the BSP has not officially reacted, the ruling party in Uttar Pradesh is understood to be having reservations over early poll in February, since the term of the state assembly expires only on May 20 next year.

Quraishi admitted that there is speculation about reservation about dates in Uttar Pradesh.

"Definitely, it is speculation. They (the government or the ruling party) have not said anything at all. Probably, they are sensible and they understand," he said.

While the term of the assemblies in Uttarakhand, Punjab and Manipur expires on March 12, 14 and 15 respectively, in the case of Goa it ends on June 14.