New Delhi, Jan 23 (UNI) Government officials and other personnel, who are to be associated with the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, have been asked to gear up for the exercise “tentatively” by April 16, according to an internal communication issued by the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Delhi.
As a buzz was created on Tuesday by the January 19 communication, the CEO issued a “clarification”, saying April 16 was “a tentative poll date purely for the purpose of advance planning, preparations and completion of activities related to ensuing General Elections to Lok Sabha 2024.”
It said, “The date 16.04.2024 mentioned as tentative Poll Date in the letter was only for reference purpose for the election officials to plan activities as per Election Planner of ECI” and has “no bearing on the actual schedule of election which shall be announced by ECI at an appropriate time”.
The clarification posted on the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi, said the ECI planner enlists all important activities and “provides start date and end date with reference to an imaginary poll date as reference point to initiate and complete those activities”.
The buzz was triggered by a January 19 circular signed by Assistant CEO T. Misao and addressed to District Election Officers (DEOs) in all 11 districts of NCT of Delhi.
The circular said, “For the ensuing General Election to the Lok Sabha 2024, the Commission has tentatively given the Poll Day as 16.04.2024 for the purpose of reference and to calculate Start and End dates in the election Planner.”
