Election Commissioner Lavasa reviews LS preparations during

Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa Saturday said he has reviewed preparedness of authorities in Goa to conduct Lok Sabha elections, which are due next year.

He held a series of meetings with Election Commission of India (ECI) officials here on Friday.

"My visit was to see the state of preparedness for Lok Sabha elections, especially because work of voters' registration is going on," he told reporters.

He said the ECI has taken stock of the situation.

"We find that chief electoral officer and his team are doing their work as per procedure. Most of the work is complete and publication of the draft (voters list) will take place on January 4," Lavasa said, adding that the poll officials also reviewed availability of EVMs and VVPATS.

Responding to a query, Lavasa clarified that holding of bypolls for Shiroda and Mandrem assembly constituencies was not on his agenda during his visit to Goa.

"The visit is not connected with by-elections. It was meant to review the general state of preparedness for Lok Sabha polls," he said.

Shiroda and Mandrem fell vacant after sitting Congress MLAs Subhash Shirodkar and Dayanand Sopte, who represented the constituencies respectively, resigned and crossed over to the BJP in October this year.

Goa has two Lok Sabha seats, which are currently held by the BJP.