Addressing a press conference at the Raj Bhavan here, Gill said, ``We are not to be blamed for the constitutional crisis leading to the dissolution of the 12th Lok Sabha but now it is our responsibility to hold the elections in good time''.

Unfortunately, he added, the five months from May to September were ``not really enough''. ``We are much worried...There are so many difficulties to be looked at,'' he said pointing to the impending monsoon and the Durga Puja and Ganeshotsav festivals in West Bengal and Maharashtra, respectively.

``You may not have given it a thought but holding elections in Kashmir gives me fever. I was praying that the entire process be delayed but we didnot get enough time. However, the EC will try to do its best under the present circumstances. It is our prime duty to ensure fair and peaceful elections,'' he added.

Work for converting electoral rolls into a printed book format for each constituency was being speedily carried out, he said, adding that names of the voter's parents were being included in the rolls to avoid duplication of names and bogus voting. The rolls would soon be available on CD ROMs and amending them would be become an easier task once they were computerised, he said.

Announcing various measures initiates by the EC to make the electioneering process more transparent, the CEC said that the Commission will act in the interest of the people first and political parties later.

Gill said that 62 per cent of the voters at the national level and 80 per cent in Maharashtra had been issued identity cards. The Commission had successfully initiated the use of electronic voting machines in India which would be put to use in certainconstituencies in all States during the polls, he said, adding that all State chief electoral officers will be linked and special channels will be set up to ensure free flow of information.

Gill was on a two-day visit to Mumbai and met Chief Minister Narayan Rane, Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde, State Chief Secretary P Subramaniam, high ranking officials of the state election commission and representatives of different political parties.