Friday, December 2 2005 10:17 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kolkata: The Election Commission plans to hold the next round of assembly elections in five states, including West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, simultaneously as the tenure of their assemblies would end around June 13 next year, but clarified it did not mean a common date of polling for the states.

"When the assemblies of a few states are finishing their tenure around the same time, it is a general policy of the Election Commission to have a schedule and hold the polls simultaneously. It does not mean a common date for all the five states (which would go to the polls next year), Chief Election Commissioner B B Tandon told reporters.

He said the term of the West Bengal assembly would expire on June 13 and the other states in the same period between May 24 and June 13.

He said Election Commission would have to take into consideration all the aspects including the school examination, security environment in the states before deciding on the schedule of election.

Tandon came here yesterday on a three-day visit to West Bengal to take stock of the preparations in the poll-bound state.

He said that the Bihar election success was a positive development and added that like in Bihar, the Model Code of Conduct will be strictly implemented.

"We expect the official machinery to be totally apolitical and impartial and act to ensure free and fair election. Any complaint to the contrary would be severely dealt with.