Festive season may usher in early state poll

NEW DELHI: If the Delhi government has its way, assembly elections here may be held in September - almost two months before the administration’s five-year term ends on December 3.
The reason behind the thinking, said top government sources, is that the festive season begins soon after September. The Muslims'' holy month of Ramzaan will begin on October 26 and culminate in the celebration of Id-ul-fitar a month later.
"Similarly, the four-day Durga puja will start on October 1.Dussehra is on October 4 and Diwali on the 25th," said the source.
"Political parties are wary of conducting elections during the festive season as the voters'' turnout is seriously affected. The ruling Congress also wants the polls to be held before October," a Congress leader added.
The government is planning to request the Election Commission of India (ECI) to hold the polls in September. If convinced, the ECI will ask the chief electoral office in Delhi government to conduct the elections.
Delhi''s joint chief electoral officer S S Ghankrokta said: "The electoral office hasn''t got any proposal from the government officially. In any case, the Election Commission has to take the final decision." However, sources in the electoral office said the government has sent them feelers on this issue.
If the government wants an early poll in September, it has to send its request to the Chief Election Commissioner in ECI by the month of July. "The election office has to notify the dates and election schedule 28 days before the polls," Ghankrokta said.
Not only the Congress, but also the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is keen on early polls. "An early election will help us reap the benefits of the anti-incumbency factors. Issues like the present water and power shortage would be fresh in the peoples'' minds and we will benefit," said a BJP leader. The party expects the current civic crisis to last till August.