Poll schedule clashes with Budget session, EC unlikely to make changes

However, officials in the EC said that the schedule of the Budget session was considered before deciding on the dates of the Assembly elections. As per the schedule, Haryana Assembly polls will be held on February 3 and polling in Bihar and Jharkhand will take place in three phases, on February 3, 15 and 23.

‘‘That is the minimum time required for troop movement from one state to another and also from one part of the state to the other,’’ the EC officials said.

If the government provides for more paramilitary forces and all political parties make a demand for rescheduling, ‘‘the Commission may consider pre-poning the last phase by a day’’, the officials said, adding that there has been no official communication from the government.

The Commission feels that the Railway Budget can be postponed by a day or two, if there is a clash of dates. Railway Minister and RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav will be occupied with electioneering, as his party is in power in Bihar.