CEC invited to observe US polls in November

The Chief Election Commissioner T.S. Krishnamurthy is likely to be a special observer at the forthcoming US presidential elections on November 2. That is, if the UPA government at the Centre gives a green signal in time.

Krishnamurthy is expected to leave for the US on October 24. When asked by The Indian Express about his impending US visit, Krishnamurthy said that it was still not final . ‘‘It is still at the stage of correspondence,’’ he said.

The invitation extended to Krishnamurthy is reciprocal. A US election team had come to monitor the last parliamentary elections here.

The Election Commission has reciprocal arrangements to monitor elections as special observers with various countries, including South Africa, Nigeria, Iraq, Iran and Nepal.