Polls will be on time, asserts CEC

The CEC and his two Commission colleagues G V G Krishnamurty and J M Lyngdoh had sought the meeting with Vajpayee to ascertain the Government8217;s perception of the conduct of polls even as speculation is rife that the war-like situation in Kargil could lead to postponement of the elections.

Vajpayee was joined by Cabinet colleagues Home Minister L K Advani, External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and National Security Advisor and Principal Secretary to the PM, Brajesh Mishra, at the 30-minute long discussions held at his residence.

Vajpayee is understood to have conveyed to the Commission the Government8217;s optimism that the operations to flush out the Pakistani infiltrators would be completed well before the scheduled time of the polls.

The election process has to be completed and the new Lok Sabha sworn in before October 21, marking the six month deadline after the dissolution of the 12th Lok Sabha.

Reacting to apprehensions that Jammu and Kashmir polls would be delayed in view of the Kargil operations, Gill said the matter would be discussed when the detailed schedule is chalked out.

The Commission has convened a meeting of the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, DG, Police and the Chief Electoral Officer of Jammu and Kashmir on July 5 to discuss the specific security arrangements for the state.

The Commission is also holding a meeting with representatives of all recognised national parties to discuss the pre-poll arrangements and to seek their views on electoral conduct in the run-up to the polls.