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No change in poll schedule: Election Commission

The Election Commission has declined to take a formal position on the demand for advancing the counting dates, but categorically stated that there would be no change in the polling dates for the general election.

Deputy Election Commissioner Subhas Pani told a news conference that there was a lot of time for counting yet and a formal position could be taken in ''good time'', but there would be no change in the poll dates and four separate notifications would be issued on January 20, 21, 28 and February 10 respectively for polling on February 16, 22, 28 and March 7.

Replying to persistent queries whether the Commission had rejected the political parties's demand for advancing the counting dates, Pani said the EC had not taken a formal position in the matter and he would not make any comments on it at this stage.

Pani said the Commission had taken into consideration the representations by some political parties, media reports and all other relevant factors and decided that there would be no change in the poll dates.

The deputy election commissioner said a Bharatiya Janata Party delegation had called on the Commission on Tuesday morning in connection with the poll schedule. Pani said with the issuing of four separate notifications the process of nominations would start.

UNI

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