GUWAHATI, Feb 18: Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Wednesday said the Election Commission of India (ECI) would take into account Assam’s ‘most important’ festival, Rongali Bihu (which falls in mid-April), before announcing the date for the Assam Legislative Assembly elections in the state.
Addressing mediapersons here, Kumar however said that ECI would deliberate on the factors to be taken into consideration, whether the election would be held in a single phase or multiple phases.
“Bihu is Assam’s most important festival and the ECI will certainly take this aspect into account before deciding on the date. Regarding the election phase, the ECI will take into account many factors before making a decision. However, I can assure you that the decision would be taken keeping in mind the interest of the electors, and in accordance with the Constitution and law of the country,” the CEC said.
The CEC is leading a ECI delegation to Guwahati for a three-day pre-Assembly election review and preparedness visit.
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had on Tuesday evening said that the Assam BJP had requested the Election Commission to conduct the Assam Legislative Assembly elections in a “single phase” prior to Rongali Bihu.
“We feel that holding the election in a single phase will also send a message that Assam is now peaceful and militancy free. It will also be a tribute to the peaceful situation in the state during an Assembly election,” Sarma said.
A BJP delegation had on Tuesday met the visiting ECI delegation and appealed to the Commission to complete the entire electoral process across the state before the onset of Rongali Bihu, citing administrative efficiency and public convenience.
Notably, along with the ruling party, several other political parties, during the interaction with the ECI delegation, requested the apex poll body to conduct the election before Rongali Bihu.
