Assembly elections in 5 states may be held together: EC

Assembly elections in five states due next year may be held together, the Central election Commission indicated on Friday.

Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi said that elections for Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Uttar Pradesh and Goa are likely to be held together. "But we are yet to take a final call on it," he told told reporters here.

He said dates would be announced after having negotiations, deliberations and discussion on various aspects concerning these states.

Quraishi said that the Commission has completed the tour of all these poll-bound states.

"We have completed our tours and taken suggestions on the conduct of the polls. Over the next few days, we will sit together, negotiate and discuss on various points," he said.

The Election Commission is taking into consideration aspects like examinations, festivals, agricultural season as also the availability of central forces, before announcing the dates.

The Commission members Friday held a series of meetings with Goa's political parties, police, bureaucracy and election officials to check the preparedness for the polls.