Sunday, January 1 2006 10:42 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: With the initial poll preparations in West Bengal almost complete, the Election Commission is all set to turn its focus on Tamil Nadu, another key state where assembly polls are due early next year.

The Commission is likely to visit Tamil Nadu this month to review the poll preparations in the state, where a keen contest is on the cards between the ruling AIADMK and DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA). Early last week, Deputy Election Commissioner Anand Kumar had visited the state to take stock of the preparations in the state.

"The whole election process in Tamil Nadu will gather momentum" in the coming days, EC sources said adding that the Commission is also planning to launch a special Electoral Photo Identity Campaign (EPIC) in the state this month in order to ensure 100 per cent coverage.

Observing that the final publication of the electoral rolls would be on February 27, the sources said that strict instructions have been given to the poll officials that any 'slip up' would be viewed very seriously.

"Emphasis will be laid on the correctness of electoral rolls and any omissions and commission is being viewed very seriously," the sources said pointing out the recent filing of complaints against a large number of persons including some Ministers for alleged attempts to 'stuff' electoral rolls with bogus names.

The cases were filed after the Madras High Court on December 21 dismissed a petition filed by AIADMK election wing secretary and PWD minister O Paneerselvam, who had sought a direction to forbear the EC from taking any legal action against its party functionaries for having forwarded bulk claims for inclusion in electoral rolls in the state.

On June 8, the EC had directed election authorities concerned to file cases against office bearers of political parties that filed bulk applications, which did not stand scrutiny under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.

Following complaints by the DMK of large-scale inclusion of bogus voters in the electoral rolls by AIADMK, the EC had sent a team to the state to verify the allegations.