Prepare for polls, says EC

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday directed the state government to be prepared for possible assembly polls during May.

Karnataka's Chief Secretary Sudhakar Rao and Director General of Police K Srinivasan called on Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami and election commissioner Y S Quraishi in New Delhi to submit their election preparedness plans.

Though the ECI did not indicate any date for the polls, it is reportedly favouring holding the elections in two or three phases. The ECI wants tough security measures in place in sensitive and hyper-sensitive polling stations of the state, especially in North Karnataka where election malpractices are often reported.

"The ECI wants to conduct free and fair polls. It is keen on ensuring absolute transparency in the polling process. It does not want a single disturbance during the elections. Consequently, it has suggested that polls be conducted in two or three phases. We may have to seek deployment of additional police platoons from the neighbouring states for the elections," state government officials said.

The ECI has collected information on polling staff, police and the logistic support required to conduct the elections. It directed the state to submit a final plan at the earliest specifying the election preparedness.

The final list of the electoral rolls of the state is expected to be published on March 29. The rolls had to be revised in view of the delimitation of the assembly constituencies.