EC to meet on Jan 1 to discuss M’laya poll date

SHILLONG: The Election Commission of India (ECI) will meet on January 1 to discuss the date of announcement of the Assembly elections in the state.
An official with the ECI said on Wednesday over phone from Delhi that no decision was taken on the announcement of the polls.
“The officials will attend duty only on January 1,” he said.
In the 2013 polls, the ECI had declared the election date on January 11 that year, fixing the date of polls on February 23.
While the ECI is expected to announce the poll date either first or second part of January second week, the national political parties are yet to meet to discuss the date of declaration of candidates.
The election committee of the Congress did not have any single meeting to discuss the release of candidates’ list.
“Since many party leaders and legislators are out of station, the election committee has not met,” a Congress functionary said.
BJP has also not declared the names of contesting candidates as any meeting to discuss the candidates is likely to be held in January first week due to the festivities.
While Congress will field candidates in all the 60 seats, the plan of BJP is to contest in winnable seats.
Other political parties of the state including NPP, UDP-HSPDP combine, PDF and KHNAM have already declared the names of many candidates.