The Election Commission is confident of completing the Assembly elections in Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana and Maharashtra in a single phase (October 13), Chief Election Commissioner Navin Chawla told this The Hindu on Monday.
The Union Home Ministry had promised to provide adequate central police forces for the elections.
The recent elections to the Lok Sabha in Maharashtra were held in three phases. The 2004 Assembly elections were held in two phases.
Asked about the eight-day gap between the polling date and the date of counting (October 22), he said this was decided taking into account the intervening Diwali holidays, cushion period required for re-poll, if any, and other aspects. “We want to be on the safe side before taking up counting.”
Mr. Chalwa said the Commission would deploy three helicopters in Arunachal Pradesh, considering the hilly terrain where it took time to transport men and material by road.
On the reservation expressed by some parties about the “tamperability” of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) he said: “They are functioning properly and we have no doubts from our side.”
