Hyderabad: Remaining non-committal on the timing of elections in Andhra Pradesh, Chief Election Commissioner J M Lyngdoh today (Dec 6, 2003) said he would "happily" leave the matter to his successor.

"I am not supposed to be deciding on this," quipped Lyngdoh, who is retiring in February next.

Ducking persistent queries from reporters on the poll schedule, the CEC, however, said the State Government's viewpoint regarding examination schedules in the month of March would be "duly considered" before taking the decision.

After opting for dissolution of Assembly 10 months ahead of its term, the Chandrababu Naidu Government was initially looking at a timeframe of February-end for the snap polls.

But the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) now appeared reconciled to a possible delay after Election Commission indicated its inability to hold elections before March in view of the ongoing revision of electoral rolls.

"We will take all factors into consideration and take an appropriate decision," Lyngdoh, who is on a private two-day visit to the city, said.

The TDP had recently decided to send a Parliamentary delegation to the EC seeking early conduct of polls and advance deployment of additional paramilitary forces in the State in view of increased threat of naxalite violence.

PTI