Chandigarh, November 23
Though officially nothing has been conveyed to the Punjab Government either by the Centre or by the Election Commission with regard to the fixing of dates for the Assembly elections, sources said the commission was considering holding the elections on March 4. The new Assembly should be constituted by March 15, 2007.

Assembly elections are due in Uttaranchal, Manipur and Uttar Pradesh also.

Sources said the commission might take the annual exams into consideration and hold the elections in the third week of February. However, the state government, the sources said, would like the elections to be held in the state by March 10.

“Holding the election around March 10 will provide enough time to the Congress to take its election campaign to peak,” said a senior Congress leader.

Last time the date for the elections held on February 13, 2002, in Punjab was declared by the commission on December 26, 2001.

However, notification with regard to the schedule was issued in the second week of January, 2002.

The sources said the election announcement this time was expected to be made in the first week of January.

Meanwhile, no dates have been fixed regarding the visits of Dr Manmohan Singh and Ms Sonia Gandhi to the state. Moreover, a meeting of the Punjab Council of Ministers is also scheduled to held on December 7, a day before the Congress’ proposed rally at Badal village.