THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The election commission is planning to conduct the assembly elections in the state before Vishu. It is heard that the commission wants to conduct the elections before April 15 and make arrangements for the results to be released by the mid of May. There are indications that the date of the assembly elections may be announced by the end of this month. Sources close to the commission confirmed to Kerala Kaumudi Online that the central election commission has taken the initial steps.

The commission members will visit states including Kerala as part of election arrangements and preparations. The team is visiting Tamil Nadu today and will visit Puducherry on Friday. The team led by the chief election commissioner will reach Kerala on Saturday. The team will hold talks with officials of Kerala, government representatives and political parties on Saturday and Sunday.

The members of the central election commission had visited West Bengal and Assam earlier. The political parties have called for more deployment of security forces in West Bengal and have asked to conduct the polls in phases. Assembly elections will be held in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam and Puducherry.

After assessing the situation in the states, the election commission will hold further discussions with the union ministry of health. The central election commission is expected to meet in the last week of this month to announce the poll date.

Teeka Ram Meena to Kerala Kaumudi Online
The assembly elections will be announced after February 15. The model code of conduct will come into force in the state from the date of announcement of polls. The election process is expected to be completed by April 30. There are also plans to conduct the elections in Kerala in a single phase. The decision is that one phase is enough since it is a small state. However, a decision will be taken only after abiding the opinion of many including political parties, considering Covid situation.

Political parties can convey their opinions when election commission members reach Kerala. Nothing more can be said on this issue. The state is ready whenever the elections are announced. The guidelines for the election have been obtained from the Centre. The Malayalam translation of it is in progress and will be published after that.