Election commission directs DM, SP to gear up for UP assembly polls

Lucknow: In Uttar Pradesh, the Election Commission has directed the district magistrates and the superintendents of police to gear up for the state assembly election which is expected to be held early next year. Slack officers were pulled up and told to complete the revision of electoral rolls on priority, launch a crackdown on anti-social elements and make adequate arrangements at the polling stations for a qualitative turnout of voters. The tough attitude of the high-level EC team led by chief election commissioner Nasim Zaidi made some officers wonder whether the commission was contemplating to hold the assembly election early. The EC team is on a three-day visit to Lucknow. Besides Zaidi, the other team members include election commissioners AK Joti and OP Rawat, deputy election commissioners Umesh Sinha and Vijay Kumar Dev, director general Dilip Sharma and director (planning) Nikhil Kumar. In the noon on Tuesday, the EC team will address a press conference. Earlier the EC team held a discussion with the representatives of the political parties on Sunday. On Monday, the EC team reviewed the preparation for the poll in 75 districts at a meeting with the district magistrates and superintendents of police. The officers were told to get into election mode and complete the revision of the electoral rolls on priority. The district magistrates were directed to make arrangements for drinking water, regular power supply, toilets and ramps at the polling stations. The superintendents of police were told to carry out vulnerability mapping in the respective districts. Besides, police officers were told to ensure that there was no intimidation of the voters and they exercised their rights without any fear.