Assam polls to be held keeping exams in mind: CEC

Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora on Wednesday said the 2021 Assam assembly polls will be held taking into consideration the Rongali Bihu festival in April and the CBSE board examinations for students of class 10 and 12.

Guwahati: Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora on Wednesday said the 2021 Assam assembly polls will be held taking into consideration the Rongali Bihu festival in April and the CBSE board examinations for students of class 10 and 12.

The assembly elections will be completed before the CBSE board exams which are scheduled between May 4 and June 10, he said.

"We have already taken the festival into consideration before coming here for the review meetings," he told reporters here.

The commission is aware of the festivals held in the states, the CEC said.

He said the commission has also held discussions with CBSE officials to decide on the poll schedule.

"We have decided that the election process will be completed before the board exams which will start from May 4," he said.

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The elections will be held in strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols, Arora said, adding that the number of auxiliary polling booths would be increased.

"The number of electors at each polling station has been restricted to 1,000 as against the existing 1,500," he said.

He also urged the state election authorities and the people to ensure "fair, peaceful and COVID safe polls".

The full bench of the commission, on a three-day visit to the state since Monday, had held discussions with the representatives of political parties and officials of the government to review poll preparedness.

PTI