10-09-2007, 02:37 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>EC gets into election mode </b>
Pioneer News Service | New Delhi
Advances roll revision to Jan 1
<b>Mid-term elections in March next year became imminent on Monday </b>with the Election Commission asking States and Union Territories to be prepared with the revised electoral rolls by mid-January.Â
<b>In a review meeting of the State Chief Electoral Officers (CEO) called on Monday, Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami along with the two Election Commissioners ordered that the electoral rolls revised as on January 1, 2008 be ready by January 15.</b>
Sources said that the roll revision work was earlier expected to be completed by January-end and by advancing it the EC has sent a clear signal that it is preparing itself for holding early polls in view of the present political instability.
According to EC sources, the CEOs of 14 States and Union Territories took part in the meeting on Monday. The officers belonged to South and Western States. The Commission intends to hold another round of talks with the CEOs of the remaining States from the North and Eastern regions of the country.
With the Left all set to pull the plug over the nuclear deal issue, the Commission's preparedness has come as a positive sign for the Congress, which seems to be itching for an early poll.
Once the States and the Union Territories publish the electoral lists by mid-January, the Commission will invite objections, if any, from political parties and organisations. Usually, this process takes almost a month, sources indicated.
Within a month after receipt of objections, the Commission will publish the revised electoral rolls. Any changes to the list are also incorporated during this period. "If the objections come in by mid-February, the Government can go for polls by March-end," the sources said.
The Election Commission spokesperson while reacting to the heightened speculation clarified it was a routine exercise carried out every year by bringing fresh electoral rolls with January 1 as the base date. According to him, the direction was given at a review meeting held with CEOs of States and Union Territories from Southern and Western India, which is normal in such circumstances, he added.
Besides electoral rolls, the Commission sought a review of the steps initiated in States to increase the Election Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) coverage. The meeting further discussed rationalisation of polling stations and the use of Geographical Information System (GIS) in election management, the spokesperson said.
Officials explained that the revision was an ongoing exercise, called summary revision. However, the Commission has prepared itself to meet any exigency in view of the prevailing political uncertainty, sources added.
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Pioneer News Service | New Delhi
Advances roll revision to Jan 1
<b>Mid-term elections in March next year became imminent on Monday </b>with the Election Commission asking States and Union Territories to be prepared with the revised electoral rolls by mid-January.Â
<b>In a review meeting of the State Chief Electoral Officers (CEO) called on Monday, Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami along with the two Election Commissioners ordered that the electoral rolls revised as on January 1, 2008 be ready by January 15.</b>
Sources said that the roll revision work was earlier expected to be completed by January-end and by advancing it the EC has sent a clear signal that it is preparing itself for holding early polls in view of the present political instability.
According to EC sources, the CEOs of 14 States and Union Territories took part in the meeting on Monday. The officers belonged to South and Western States. The Commission intends to hold another round of talks with the CEOs of the remaining States from the North and Eastern regions of the country.
With the Left all set to pull the plug over the nuclear deal issue, the Commission's preparedness has come as a positive sign for the Congress, which seems to be itching for an early poll.
Once the States and the Union Territories publish the electoral lists by mid-January, the Commission will invite objections, if any, from political parties and organisations. Usually, this process takes almost a month, sources indicated.
Within a month after receipt of objections, the Commission will publish the revised electoral rolls. Any changes to the list are also incorporated during this period. "If the objections come in by mid-February, the Government can go for polls by March-end," the sources said.
The Election Commission spokesperson while reacting to the heightened speculation clarified it was a routine exercise carried out every year by bringing fresh electoral rolls with January 1 as the base date. According to him, the direction was given at a review meeting held with CEOs of States and Union Territories from Southern and Western India, which is normal in such circumstances, he added.
Besides electoral rolls, the Commission sought a review of the steps initiated in States to increase the Election Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) coverage. The meeting further discussed rationalisation of polling stations and the use of Geographical Information System (GIS) in election management, the spokesperson said.
Officials explained that the revision was an ongoing exercise, called summary revision. However, the Commission has prepared itself to meet any exigency in view of the prevailing political uncertainty, sources added.
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