Elections may be clubbed: EC
Source: Hueiyen News Service
New Delhi, June 18 2011:
Election Commission of India said on Friday that polls to five states may be clubbed together depending on availability of paramilitary forces.
"We may club elections in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur if the availability of forces is adequate," Election Commissioner Harishankar Brahma said while speaking to The Indian Express on Friday.
On whether any of the states has written to the Election Commission for early polls, he said the EC has not received any such request.
"It is not necessary for a state government to write to us.
It is the Election Commission's prerogative to conduct elections and it can do so six months before the term of a state Assembly comes to an end," he said.
Since the term of three state Assemblies�Punjab, Manipur and Uttarakhand � ends in February 2012, elections to these have to be held by February.
The term of Uttar Pradesh Assembly expires in May and that of Goa in June.
If feasible, polls in these two states may be held earlier.