EC sets its date with parties in state

On the first day of the visit,Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi,Election Commissioners V S Sampath and H S Brahma will meet all the political parties — as per alphabetical order — and take their suggestions as well complaints about the election process and electoral rolls. Sources said that commission will give 15 minutes to each political party registered in UP.

The parties have been informed about the Commission’s visit and party leaders have already started listing their suggestions and complaints for the meeting.

“The commission will focus on the electoral roll preparations. Status of cases of poll-related violence lodged during past elections would also be reviewed,” said Umesh Sinha,Chief Electoral Officer,UP.

The commission will conduct the review based on the information collected from districts. It has sent a proforma to all the district magistrates seeking details about the number of voters in electoral roll,coverage of electoral photo identity cards (EPIC),hurdles in achieving the target of 100 per cent coverage in photo electoral roll,number of polling stations and status of polling stations that were declared sensitive during the Lok Sabha elections,2009 and Assembly elections in 2007.

Based on the details collected,the commission will review the preparations for training of booth level officers for electoral roll revision and opening of voter service centres in Assembly constituencies. The commission will meet the divisional commissioner and district magistrates on July 21. It will also meet the chief secretary and director general of police. Deputy Election Commissioner Vinod Zutshi will be in Lucknow on July 19.