EC may opt for six-phase polls, announcement likely by Feb-end

There may be an additional phase of polling, as compared to five in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, depending on the security scenario particularly in the Maoists-affected states, Election Commissioner Harishankar Brahma said today. The senior official also said “In 2009 we had a five-phase election. We may do a six phase this time but we are yet to firm that up. This will happen only after meeting officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the officials of the respective states, our colleagues in those states to have a proper understanding of the ground situation,” Brahma told CNN-IBN in New Delhi. [caption id=“attachment_1337561” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Election Commissioner HS Brahma. Image courtesy PIB[/caption] Saying that preparations for the Lok Sabha elections to be held this year have already started, he said, “We have began preliminary preparations and they are all going on in full swing. We will announce the election dates at the end of February like we did in 2009.” The poll official also expressed his reservations on the opinion polls. “The Election Commission believes that like the like the exit polls, the opinion polls should also be banned. There was a cabinet meeting on it and we are yet to be informed about the decision,” the poll official said. He was also not in favour of state funding of elections. “There were some proposals earlier, we are not approving it. We have decided against it,” he said. When asked the Election Commissioner completely disapproved of the personal attacks that takes place at the time of electioneering. “Certain comments that are not palatable whether there is election or not. Let us not indulge in it. We should limit ourselves to gentlemanly behaviour and should not go beyond that,” Brahma said. On NOTA, the Election Commissioner said, “NOTA is making a huge difference. Even the rural voters are familiar with it and it will have a tremendous impact.” However, he said India needs time to familiarise itself with the process first before right to recall before it is implemented. “India is not prepared for right to recall at present. It’s okay at gram panchayat and municipal level elections. We cannot use it for an all-India election. How do we implement it? It’s too early for right to recall. We don’t have systems in place,” Brahma said.