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EC likely to announce poll dates after budget

By Spl Correspondent

NEW DELHI, Feb 22 � The Election Commission (EC) is likely to announce the schedule for Assembly elections to five States after presentation of the Railway and Union Budget.

According to reports, the crucial meeting over deployment of forces with Home Ministry has taken place and polls are expected to be announced sometime during first week of March. The Railway Budget is scheduled to be presented on February 25 and General Budget on February 28. Polls are scheduled in the States of Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Pondicherry.

The multi-phased polls are expected to begin in April and conclude in about a month�s time in mid-May.

The EC has been holding marathon round of meetings with Home Ministry officials and Electoral officials of the poll-bound States. The meeting with the Home Ministry is over though a final meeting is scheduled with the Union Home Secretary, G K Pillai.

In Assam, the polling is likely to be multi-phased and is likely to be over by April-end. The polls in West Bengal may be spread over five phases, because of threats of violence in the State. In both Assam and West Bengal, Central Para-military forces are expected to be deployed in large number.

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