Chief Election Commissioner M S Gill is upset that the Delhi Government is dragging its feet over computerising electoral rolls. That too with just a few months to go for the Assembly elections.

``Delhi is only a city with a few villages. Why should they take so much time? It is just because Delhi is the most pampered state. Bigger states like Himachal Pradesh completed their work long back and they don't even have elections coming,'' Gill said on Wednesday.

The CEC emphasised that computerisation of electoral rolls is a must for free and fair elections. ``Once the electoral data is fed in the computer, it can be printed in book form or made available on CD-Rom to every political party. Then they can study it attheir own party offices and the character and composition of the electorate would be clear and easily available to all concerned. There would be no scope for post-poll allegations then,'' the CEC said.

The Commission is focusing on states such as Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Mizoram, which go to the polls in six months time. And Delhi, according to the EC, is lagging behind in all pre-poll preparations from preparing electoral rolls software to completing the I-cards programme.

``I can understand if a huge state like Madhya Pradesh has problems. But the Delhi Government was supposed to provide the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) with more stuff so that he could complete the work faster. But they haven't done that, even after several reminders from me,'' the CEC said.

At the moment, the Delhi electoral office is apparently working with half of the required staff. And, at this rate, there is no way the process can be completed in time. ``Besides, for computerisation, the CEO needs funds. They areblocking the finances as well. That is what is causing more concern,'' Gill said.

With the deadline set in September, the Delhi CEO has sent a status report to the Election Commission.

But the Government, apparently, is taking it rather easy. Besides, the state government, harassed by the severe power and water crises, have little time to spare for electoral reforms.

When asked what was causing the delay, the Delhi's joint CEO, Ghanashyam Kar, was guarded in his response.

``We are only following the EC's instructions and we are trying to do our work. But it is difficult to say when it will be complete!''

Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.