Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi said it was advisable to stick to the poll schedule announced by the Commission on Tuesday as it was arrived at after taking into account the situation in all states that are going to polls.
"We had taken every possibility into account. We have taken into account also the other states that are going to polls. So it will be advisable to stick to that," he told mediapersons on the sidelines of a function in New Delhi. "There is no possibility," he said in response to a question whether there is a possibility of postponing the polls. His comments assume significance in the wake of political parties demanding that the EC postpone the election schedule in Tamil Nadu as April 13 comes in the middle of the exam and festival season.
AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa had on Thursday shot off a letter to Quraishi asking him to consider postponing the elections. In reply to a question, he said he received a letter in this regard only from Jayalalithaa. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had on Wednesday expressed reservations over the poll schedule and rued that the Commission did not discuss with the ruling party before announcing the dates.
Quraishi rejected the contention of the political parties that the poll campaign would disturb students, saying the Commission had already issued an order banning use of loudspeakers within 200 metres from school premises across the state. "We have issued that order. Anyway, the campaign will be a low-noise affair. So, there is no problem," he said.
To a question whether the Commission will advance the counting date, he replied in the negative. Quraishi said the Commission decided the schedule after detailed discussion with stakeholders concerned.
