CEC to arrive in Lucknow on 2-day tour on Tuesday

Besides reviewing the electoral roll preparations, the CEC would also make an assessment of the arrangements to be made for the Vidhan Sabha polls, reports Umesh Raghuvanshi.

As Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami arrives in Lucknow on Tuesday to begin his two-day tour, all eyes are set on him in view of speculations over likely dates of Vidhan Sabha polls.

HT Image

Besides reviewing the electoral roll preparations, the CEC would also make an assessment of the arrangements to be made for the Vidhan Sabha polls. As per programme, the CEC would review preparations of the electoral rolls of Faizabad division on Tuesday. On Wednesday he would review progress of preparation of Lucknow division's electoral rolls.

Much significance is being attached to CEC's visit as it comes close on the heels of visits of 21 poll observers whom Election Commission had sent recently to review progress of preparation of electoral rolls in different districts.

Election Commissioners Dr SY Quereshi and Naveen Chawla also reviewed the progress of electoral roll preparations at Allahabad and Bareilly respectively on Monday. Final electoral rolls are to be published on January 3, 2007.

A question mark however hangs over the dates for election to state assembly. Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav had sent a letter to the CEC urging him to hold the UP poll in February and mid March 2007. Chief minister also met the CEC recently to press his point. The decision to prepone the high school and intermediate examinations however led to speculations that the EC may hold the UP poll only from mid April 2007 to May 14, 2007.