EC to take stock of poll preparations on Oct 9-10

Setting the ball in motion for the Gujarat Assembly polls, the Election Commission said it will review the poll preparations in the state on October 9 and 10.

Senior officials said that the Election Commission, comprising Chief Election Commissioner AK Joti, and Election Commissioners Om Prakash Rawat and Sunil Arora, will arrive on a two-day visit to the state on October 9.

"The Election Commission will meet representatives of political parties and district officials on the first day of the visit. There will be meetings with the chief secretary, DGP and home secretary the next day," they said.

The EC will review the administration's preparedness for conducting the elections, which are likely to take place in December.

During the meeting with political parties, the EC will seek their cooperation on adherence to the Model Code of Conduct. Similarly, it will direct district officials to ensure that elections are held in a free and fair manner by curbing use of money and muscle power.

The three-member EC will also review status of the electoral rolls, availability of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) system, among other aspects.

In its meeting with the chief secretary, home secretary and the DGP, the EC is expected to discuss polling personnel management, requirement and deployment of police and paramilitary forces during the elections, and others.

It is widely expected that the election schedule will be announced in mid-October, just before Diwali, while the polls are likely to be held in December.