EC may announce polling dates for 5 states/UTs next week

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission whitethorn denote assembly polls successful 5 states/UT anytime aft March 15, which is besides the deadline for filing of appeals against the last electoral rotation for West Bengal published connected Feb 28 with a full 6.4 crore electors.The model for appeals against the last electoral rolls for different poll-bound states/UT - Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry - is already over.Sources indicated less phases successful the upcoming circular of assembly polls, arsenic compared to the 2021 docket that had West Bengal voting implicit 8 phases, Assam implicit 3 phases and Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry successful a azygous phase. To alteration polls implicit a shorter duration with constricted phases, determination volition beryllium a important summation successful the deployment of cardinal forces, peculiarly successful West Bengal.

Sources indicated that the full spot of CAPFs to beryllium deployed could surpass the 1,500 companies, comprising astir 1.4 lakh personnel, deployed for the 2024 assembly predetermination successful J&K. Around 500 companies of CAPFs, comprising astir 45,000 personnel, are already connected beforehand deployment successful West Bengal.Multi-phase polls are expected successful West Bengal and Assam, portion Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry whitethorn ballot successful a azygous phase.

Given that the word of West Bengal assembly expires connected May 7, polling is apt to agelong implicit April and aboriginal May.The process of adjudication of astir 60 lakh 'doubtful' cases successful West Bengal by judicial officers appointed by the Calcutta High Court volition continue, with scope for further entreaty earlier the tribunals. Sources said EC volition people the supplementary elector lists with cases approved by judicial officers, arsenic directed by the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court.Meanwhile, the EC connected Thursday issued the notification regarding assignment of returning officers for each 294 constituencies successful West Bengal, aft the authorities govt, upon the commission's insistence, consented to supply officers of requisite seniority.EC volition besides support a adjacent ticker implicit deployment and randomisation of CAPF and authorities constabulary unit successful the poll-bound states, done peculiar constabulary observers, constabulary observers and CAPF nodal officers.