Election dates for five states

      New Delhi: Chief Election Commissioner B B Tandon announced the election schedule for four state Assemblies -- Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and the Union Territory of Pondicherry -- here on Wednesday.

     Tandon said that polls in Assam would be held in two-phases -- the first phase for 65 assembly constituencies would take place on April 3 and the second phase for the remaining 61 seats will take place on April 10. West Bengal, he said would have polls in five-phases on April 17, 22, 27, May 3 and 8. The polling for the first phase for 45 assembly constituencies will take place on April 17. The second phase polling for 66 seats on April 22. While the third, fourth and fifth phases polling for 77, 57 and 49 assembly constituencies respectively will take place on April 27, May 3 and May 8 in the same order, he said. Kerala, with 145 seats, will go to polls in three phases, with the polling for the first phase of for 59 constituencies taking place on April 22. The second and third phases of elections for 66 and 15 constituencies respectively will be held on April 29 and May 3 respectively. Tamil Nadu will have a one day poll on May 8 for all 234 assembly seats. Pondicherry will have a two-phase elections. The three constituencies, which adjoin the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu will have go to polls in the first phase on May 03 and will coincide with the third phase of elections in Kerala. While the second phase for the remaining 27 assembly constituencies will take place on May 8.

     Tandon stated that electronic voting machines will be used in all the states and the required number of EVMs has already been sent to the states. He also said that central para-military forces will be deployed to maintain law and order and to see that elections are held in full-security and without any trouble. Informing the reporters about the role of DMs in the forthcoming elections, the CEC said that all District Magistrates have been instructed to make detailed view of the elections. They will be asked to surrender their time during the election period, he added. He also said that no returning officer (RO) will be in charge of more than two assembly constituencies. Tandon also said that the Election Commission had made the election schedule after making detailed assessment of the ground realities. Counting of votes in all the states will take place on May 11. "Counting would be on May 11 and entire election process would be completed before the May 20," said the CEC. He also said that the each returning officer would have to handle two constituencies. The model code of conduct comes into effect from today.

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