NEW DELHI, Feb 5 Gearing up for the Lok Sabha polls, the full Election Commission today met leaders of political parties who disfavoured the exercise being staggered over several phases, with CPI-M suggesting it should be completed within three weeks, reports PTI. A highlight of the meeting was Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami and Election Commissioner Navin Chawla appearing together in public for the first time after the controversy over the recommendation for Chawla's removal came to the fore.
The meeting came against the backdrop of one of the Election Commissioners S Y Quraishi hinting that the polls could be held between April eight and May 15.
"A common view among the parties who attended the meeting today was to hold the general elections towards the end of April," BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.
Suggesting that the polls should not be stretched out too much, CPI-M leader Sitamram Yechury said it should not exceed "at the most three weeks". The party also opposed stoppage of ongoing developmental activities during the entire poll period.
Yechury said states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu where one-day polling have been held, the same practice should be maintained. There was no need for having multi-phase polls in such states as it would only stretch resources and security requirements.
Both Yechury and D Raja (CPI) demanded proportional representation and state funding of elections.
Senior Congress leader and Union Minister Kapil Sibal said before finalising the poll dates, the EC should consult the Centre to ensure availability of para-military forces.
He, as also Yechury, expressed concern over surrogate advertisements and pointed out that advertisements often appeared in the form of news involving a lot of expenditure.
In all 32 political parties including seven national parties participated in the meeting.
Today's exercise will be followed by a day-long review meeting with the Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of all states and UTs tomorrow to review progress in revision of electoral rolls, the status of photo electoral rolls and distribution of Electors Photo Identity Cards.
The Commission would hold discussions with Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police of all states and Union Territories for two days from February five.
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