GUWAHATI, JULY 19: The forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in Assam will be held on the basis of the 1997 voters’ list, Chief Election Commissioner M S Gill said here today.
Referring to the demands of some political parties in Assam and the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) for revision of electoral rolls, Gill told mediapersons the EC would address the issue next year.
On the disputed voters’ list being examined by the various tribunals, the CEC said the Union Home Minister would be urged to ensure that the cases were disposed of at the earliest.
The Election Commission was worried about the militant threat during elections in Assam and the state government’s demand to hold elections in two phases due to security risk would be examined by the Commission, Gill said.
“I will go to Delhi and discuss the issue with my colleagues before taking a decision on this matter,” he said.
On allegations made by opposition parties in various states that the ruling parties were issuing back-dated transfer orders, Gill said the matter would be looked into.
“The Election Commission would ensure that any political party in power does not take advantage of its position and ideally a temporary period of presidential rule should be imposed on the state where elections are being held,” Gill added.
Assam goes to polls on October 1 with 1.42 crore people casting their votes in 17,606 polling stations.
Gill is also scheduled to visit Meghalaya.