EC full team in Assam to assess poll preparedness
Guwahati: The full team of the Election Commission led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Nasim Zaidi arrived in Assam on Monday to assess the preparedness ahead of next year’s legislative assembly elections.
Zaidi, accompanied by the two Election Commissioners A.K. Joti and O.P. Rawat, met leaders of various political parties.
All political parties have urged the Election Commission India to hold next Assam Assembly elections before Rongali Bihu festival that marks the Assamese new year in mid-April.
“We met the Election Commission full bench today (Monday) and requested them to hold the elections before Rongali Bihu. We also appealed to them to hold the election in two phases,” said Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) general secretary Durga Das Boro.
Delegations of the major parties of the state made the submission before a visiting full bench of the EC here on Monday. The full bench of the Election Commission, led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Nasim Zaidi, is on a two-day visit to Assam from Monday as a preparatory tour of the state for next year’s Assembly elections.
Representatives of ruling Congress, BJP, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), CPI, CPI-M and NCP met the EC team with their suggestions and apprehensions for next year’s election.
All the parties, barring CPI-M, urged the EC to conclude the voting process in two phases before Rongali Bihu celebrations, which start from mid-April.
Leaders from other political parties — Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) — also met the poll panel team.
The political parties also urged the EC to seize all illegal arms in the state in the interest of ensuing fair election. The state’s chief electoral officer and leaders of All Assam Students Union (AASU) also met the visiting EC team that is slated to hold meetings with police and civil administration officials of the districts on Tuesday.
