CEC to visit Himachal tomorrow to review poll preparedness

Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami along with the other two Election Commissioners will be going to Shimla to review poll preparedness for the forthcoming Assembly elections.

New Delhi, Oct 15 : Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami along with the other two Election Commissioners will be going to Shimla to review poll preparedness for the forthcoming Assembly elections.

They are likely to discuss issues pertaining to the two-phase elections in the state, scheduled for November 14 and December 19, with all political parties, said an official source.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has reportedly met party leaders in Shimla, seeking readjustment of polling dates in the state.

The Chief Minister and some of his Cabinet Ministers are also likely to meet Gopalswami.

According to reports, a team led by Singh would urge the Election Commission to change polling dates keeping in view the snow season of December.

State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Jai Ram Thakur and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) state convenor Vijay Singh Mankotia are also likely to meet the EC team.

On October 10, Gopalswami announced that the voting for the two-phase State Assembly polls in the state will take place on November 14 and December 19.

The Electoral process for the 68-member State Assembly would begin from October 20, and counting will take place on December 28, he added.

The term of the current State Assembly is till March 9, 2008.

ANI