By IANS
Shimla : Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswamy Wednesday rejected the demand of Himachal Pradesh’s ruling Congress to reschedule the assembly elections.
“Elections will be held in the state as per schedule,” Golpalaswamy said when asked if the Election Commission was considering the Congress demand.
The polls are to be held in the state Nov 14-Dec 19.
Having been taken unawares by the announcement last week, the Congress has been pleading with the Election Commission that the polls should take place in late February instead of mid-winter as the five-year term of the government expires only on March 9.
The opposition parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), are against any rescheduling of the polling dates.
The Chief Election Commissioner, accompanied by the two election commissioners, was on a two-day visit of the state to review the poll preparations.
“We could consider advancing, rather than postponing, the polling date of the second phase by 15 days as the state education board says the government schools would be busy with exams then,” Gopalaswamy said.
Elections to the three tribal seats of Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti and Bharmaur will take place Nov 14, before the area received snowfall, while the voting for the remaining 65 seats will take place Dec 19. Counting will be on Dec 28.