Congress denies seeking early Kerala polls

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Kerala unit of the Congress Sunday denied reports that it had asked for the April-May assembly polls to be advanced.

“We are fully geared for the polls but we have not made any request,” Ramesh Chennithala, who heads the Congress’ Kerala unit, said in a press statement.

Three-phased polls were held April 22, 29 and May 3 in 2006. V.S. Achuthanandan was sworn in as chief minister May 18, 2006.

Deputy Election Commissioner Alok Shukla would arrive here from Delhi Monday to talk to representatives of all political parties about the poll arrangements.

Close to one lakh state government employees, who constitute the backbone of the election machinery, are due to retire March 31 next year.

Congress sources said this issue would be taken up with the Election Commission to ensure that the polls were not delayed on this count.