New Delhi: The dissolution of Gujarat Assembly nine months ahead of schedule is viewed as an attempt to force the Election Commission into holding early elections, a prospect relished by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) but feared by its rivals.

The possibility of a confrontation between the Election Commission and the Centre is not completely ruled out on the holding of early elections, feel political observers.

The calculation behind the dissolution appears to be that the EC would have no choice but to hold the elections latest by September to fulfil the Constitutional obligation that there should not be more than six months' gap between two sessions of the House. The House last met in April.

However, going by Chief Election Commissioner J M Lyngdoh's public opposition to early polls, it remains to be seen what the three-member Commission would do on the schedule of the election.

A delay in elections would be possible only if the state is brought under President's Rule to avoid the situation in which the Assembly must meet within six months. But a President's Rule is considered remote because such a decision has to be taken by the Centre where BJP heads the government.

PTI