Guwahati, February 17 Prominent national and state political parties in Assam, during their meetings with the Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday, requested that the assembly elections in Assam be held in either a single phase or a maximum of two phases, officials said.
The full bench of the EC, led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, is on a visit to Assam to review the preparations for the upcoming state assembly elections.
Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, along with Assam Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Goel, held meetings at a hotel here on the second day of their three-day visit to the state.
Among the national parties, Aam Aadmi Party, BJP, CPI(M), and Congress attended the meeting, while among the state parties, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), and United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) held separate meetings with the Commission.
Most political parties demanded that the elections be held in a single phase or a maximum of two phases. They also urged the EC to schedule the election dates, taking into account the Bihu festival, according to an official release.
The political parties generally appreciated the Special Revision of the electoral rolls in Assam.
The parties also gave suggestions for ensuring the peaceful conduct of elections in the state, the release added.
CEC Gyanesh Kumar is also scheduled to hold meetings with the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, Director General of Police, Chief Electoral Officer, police nodal officer, and other senior officials of the state government during the day.
Gyanesh Kumar and the two election commissioners will address the media on the last day of their visit on February 18.
Elections to the 126-member Assam Assembly were likely to be held in March-April, with the term of the current assembly ending on May 20.
