Poll schedule in 5 states to be announced based on inputs by security: EC

The Election Commission will take a call on the dates of Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Manipur and Uttarakhand, due early next year, based on the inputs provided by security forces and state law and order machinery, Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi said on Wednesday. “We are trying to assess the requirement of security forces, climate and exam schedule -- all these inputs are being taken into consideration. Only then we will be able to say whether they will be staggered or multi-phase,” said the CEC.

To another question on the subject, he said, “As far as the schedule is concerned, the Commission has not given a thought as yet.”  While the term of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly ends in May next, the terms of assemblies of Punjab, Goa, Manipur and Uttarakhand will end in March, 2017. Against the backdrop of Ram temple issue hogging the limelight in Uttar Pradesh again, he was asked whether he thinks the Commission should be given powers to prevent political parties from making statements in poll-bound states where elections have not yet been announced.