New Delhi: A team of senior Election Commission (EC) officials is in Chandigarh to oversee poll preparedness in Punjab, where assembly elections are likely to be held early next year along with Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa.
The EC team led by a senior deputy election commissioner is holding meetings with enforcement agencies, officials said Tuesday.
Drug and substance abuse is a major political and social issue in the state that borders Pakistan.
EC officials have already visited Uttarakhand and Manipur, while their tour schedules for Uttar Pradesh and Goa are being chalked out.
Before announcing the election dates, the chief election commissioner and election commissioners visit poll-bound states.
While recently ordering the Special Summary Revision of electoral rolls in 17 states, including these five, the EC had said that polls in these five states could be held early next year.
While the term of the 493-member Uttar Pradesh assembly ends May 22 next year, the terms of 60-member Manipur, 40-member Goa, 117-member Punjab and 70-member Uttarakhand assemblies end on different dates in March 2027.
Provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, allow the EC to hold polls earlier than six months before the term expires.
