Postpone U'khand polls to Feb 10 due to snowfall: BJP

In view of inclement weather in Uttarkhand, Bharatiya Janata Party has requested the Election Commission to postpone the polling date in the hill state from January 30 to February 10 as movement of people, vehicles and material was restricted due to heavy snowfall.

BJP also requested the poll panel to remove certain officials from key positions in Uttar Pradesh, saying they were close to the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party.

The demands were made by a party delegation led by BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi when it met Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi in New Delhi.

"Life in Uttarakhand has come to a standstill due to heavy snowfall. Chief Minister B C Khanduri was stranded on Monday in Kotdwar during his election campaign and had to walk seven kilometres as vehicles could not move," Naqvi said.

He maintained that voters may face problems if polling is held on January 30 as scheduled. BJP suggested to the EC that polling in Uttarakhand should be held on February 10.

"Even leaders of political parties are unable to go there for campaigning in view of the bad weather conditions. Hence, we have asked the EC to extend the polling date to help provide relief to voters," Naqvi said.

The BJP delegation also complained against ruling BSP in Uttar Pradesh and asked EC not to allow deployment of certain officials already removed by it from key positions in the state.

"We have also sought removal of certain 'history-sheeter' officials from key positions in UP. They are acting on behalf of BSP and have already been removed by EC from top positions. Their continuation in some key posts will not ensure free and fair polls," he said.