EC discusses availability of forces for polls in 5 states

Election Commission today discussed the availability of forces for deployment during Assembly polls in five states slated later this year.
Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath along with two Election Commissioners H S Brahma and Nasim Zaidi and other top officials held over an hour-long meeting with Home Secretary Anil Goswami to discuss the issue.
Five states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhatisgarh, Delhi and Mizoram will go to polls later this year to elect their new Assemblies.
The availability of central and police forces is important for the smooth conduct of elections in Naxal-hit states like Chhattisgarh, where polling is likely to be staggered.

"The EC held a meeting with Home Secretary today as part of its plans for holding assembly elections," said a senior poll official.
Sources said the Home Secretary has assured its support in deployment of central forces during the forthcoming polls as desired by the poll body, which is still in the process of assessing the total requirement of forces.

"We will provide the required number of forces to the EC for deployment in the five states during assembly elections," a Home Ministry official said.
The Election Commission is in the process of finalising the election dates and is making hectic preparations ahead of the Assembly elections.

A team of top EC officials led by the CEC will visit Jaipur tomorrow to review poll-preparedness in Rajasthan. Top EC officials have already visited states of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh in this regard and also held a meeting with poll officials in Delhi.
Rajasthan is to elect its 200-member Assembly before the end of the year as the term of the present House ends on December 31.