New Delhi: In order to draw a time table for assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir "very quickly", the Election Commission (EC) will meet Chief Secretaries of half a dozen states tomorrow to find out if they can spare 4,000 to 5,000 Urdu speaking employees for poll duties there.

The EC, which announced the poll schedule for five states, is working on a contingency plan before taking a decision on the timing of elections in the border state.

The Commission will consult Chief Secretaries of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh to know to what extent these states can spare Urdu-speaking government employees for the polls.

EC sources said the move is aimed at having a backup contingency plan in the event of government staff in the sensitive state not being able to offer their services due to some reasons.

The availability of security forces is not a problem as the Centre has expressed its readiness in this regard, the sources said, adding once the availability of Urdu-speaking polling staff is known, the EC will finalise the schedule.

"We will very quickly take a decision," the sources said.
Source : PTI