NEW DELHI. May 4: Midterm elections to the Indian Lok Sabha will be held between September and the first week of October to constitute the new House before October 21. as re-Suired under the constitution of re country. Chief Election Commissioner M S Gill announced here today, reports BSS.

The possible timing for the polls was unanimously decided by the commission alter hearing the views of all political parties and considering all relevant factors, he said.

Gill said the code of conduct for the political parties will come into force the moments election schedule is announced.

He said the dates for the

election will be announced later.

The Chief Election Commissioner told reporters that various factors including the weather conditions, had been taken into account while deciding on September as the most suitable time for the polls.

The Chief Election Commissioner said that elections lo nine state assemblies are due and the question of linking them with the Lok Sabha election schedule had to be examined by the commission.

The Election Commission yesterday held an all-party meeting to decide the dates for the Lok Sabha polls.

The Congress and most of the other opposition parties

had pleaded for holding elections in September only after the revision of the electoral rolls. At present, there are about 615 million voters.

But the BJP and its allies was in favour of polls to be held in June.

Gill said an update of voter rolls indicates there will be an additional 15 million voters since the last parliament elections in February 1998. He said 4 million staff would be needed to man 800.000 polling stations across the country and the voting would probably be staggered over several days, ending in Hie first week of October.

Independent studies have estimated the election may cost close to 500 million dollars.