Uttar Pradesh Assembly election is set to be held in February and the Election Commission of India is likely to announce the poll schedule after Christmas. Unconfirmed sources said that the entire process of elections chould be over by March 7.
The final round of review to check preparedness would be made early next week by senior EC officials at the ground level and thereafter the dates would be announced in Delhi.
Official sources said in lucknow on Friday that Deputy Election Commissioner Vijay Kumar Deo would be visiting Varanasi, Allahabad, Kanpur and lucknow for four days from December 19 to 22. ”This could be the last review meeting by EC official before announcing poll dates,” sources said.
The Deputy EC would start his review from Varanasi on December 19, in Allahabad on December 20, in Kanpur on December 21 and in lucknow on December 22.
Earlier, the State Election Office in lucknow had been asked to be prepare for poll dates after December 15. But with the Deputy EC reviewing the preparation, it is now assumed that poll dates would be announced after December 22.
There are three clear pointers to indicate that polls are round the corner in UP. First, the EC has cancelled the schedule of examination for High School and Intermediate announced by the UP Board of Secondary Education. As per the schedule, examinations were to be held from February 16 to March 20. The Board has now been directed to reschedule the dates in consultation with the State’s Chief Electoral Officer. Second, CM Akhilesh Yadav seems to be a man in a hurry. Drawing inspiration from Jayalalitha’s ‘Amma salt’ campaign in Tamil Nadu, Yadav hastened the launch of subsidised sale of Samajwadi Namak in UP. And third, in his bid to further flummox political adversaries, the CM rushed to get cabinet’s approval for implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations which would benefit about 24 lakh state employees and pensioners.
Moreover, the CM on Friday announced to hold camps in each district for distribution of free lap tops to students on December 19. Besides, special camps in each district will be held to select beneficiaries for various welfare schemes like Samajwadi Pension and lohia Rural Housing Scheme.