Mahanta opts for two-phase polls

NEW DELHI, March 30: Assam Government has scaled down its plea for a three-phase election and instead, now wants a two-phase poll in the State to ensure adequate deployment of security forces during the polls. The state government's views were conveyed to the Chief Election Commissioner, M S Gill by the Chief Minister, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta here this morning. The Chief Minister's meeting with the CEC came, even as the Assam Congress here yesterday submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission of India (EC) alleging gross violation of code of conduct by the state government. Meanwhile, Mahanta told this newspaper that they have requested the EC to consider holding a two-phase polls in the State in view of the prevailing law-and-order situation in the State. Phase-wise polls in the State is necessary for ensuring proper deployment of paramilitary forces, he added. The Assam Government's representation to the EC comes in the wake of reports that the EC was planning to hold one-day simultaneous polls in all the five States. The Chief Minister, however, said the CEC did not give any indication to that effect. The issue has become a subject of hot debate as the Assam Congress has called for a one-day poll in the State citing apprehension of massive riggings by the ruling party. The Congress party has rubbished the state government's plea for a phase-wise poll on the ground that the last two Lok Sabha polls held on a single day saw no major violent incidents despite the threats from the underground organisations. Meanwhile, Mahanta said, they have also asked the EC to ensure adequate deployment of para-military forces in the State. In this connection, the state government has already submitted a detailed list of its requirement for additional Central forces, he disclosed. Though the Chief Minister did not admit it, it was clear that due to the apprehension that the EC may go for a single-day poll prompted the state government to scale down its plea for a three-day to two-day election. Meanwhile, Assam Congress president, Tarun Gogoi said that they have protested the massive transfer and posting of state government officials by the ruling party in the State on the election eve. The Congress has requested the EC to direct the state government to refrain from indulging in transfer and posting at this stage, he aid. 'The Assam Government has not paid heed to your directives and is doling out appointments in various departments', he alleged, giving out the details of the appointments made by the state government during last couple of days. 'The state government's recent action only justifies our allegation that the rulling party in the State is hell-bent to rig the polls by mis-using the Government machinery,' the Congress Party contended. Meanwhile, the AGP today reacted to the charge that the regional party was planning to use the SULFA to rig the polls in the State by countering that the Congress Party is hob-nobbing with the SULFA trying to woo them. A senior AGP leader alleged that hordes of SULFA men have come down to the Capital and are currently hosting several groups of Congressmen in various guest houses and hotels. 'Several of the Congress ticket seekers are being backed by SULFA apparently indicating that the two have joined hands before polls,' the leader alleged.