Shimla: A two phase election has been planned for Himachal that is likely to be held in November, a month ahead of schedule, chief secretary Sudripta Roy stated here.
In an informal meet with select media persons today, the chief secretary said that discussions with Election Commission of India were underway for holding of the general assembly elections.
Since the high passes that connect the tribal districts of Lahaul-Spiti and Pangi region of Chamba are officially closed on 15th November, the Commission intends to hold the first phase of polling before that cutoff date, said Roy.
With Diwali to be celebrated in the second week of November, the first phase of polling to be held in the high altitude tribal areas is likely to be in the first week of November and for the rest of the state in the third week, he said.
The chief secretary said that though the final call of announcing the election dates would be taken by the EC, the authorities were gearing up the state machinery for holding of the elections under the directions of the commission.
Term of the current assembly ends on December 30 and the ruling party BJP had let the EC know that government should be allowed to run its full term.
“We did represent our case before the commission that the government should be allowed to run it full term,” said Rajeev Bindal, general secretary of BJP.
Though elections to the Himachal assembly are slated to be held with that of Gujarat, but due to the topographical difficulties and extreme climatic conditions that could render high altitude zones snow bound, if winter sets in early, elections in these regions have to be held earlier than in other parts of the state.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads the team of media professionals at Hill Post.
In a career spanning over two decades through all formats of journalism in Electronic, Print and Online Media, he brings with him enough experience to steer this platform. He lives in Shimla.
