Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad yesterday said all necessary measures would be taken to ensure the safety of voters in the upcoming polls to the Dhaka city corporations.

He, however, ruled out the possibility of the Election Commission' s asking the government to deploy the army alongside regular law enforcers to maintain law and order for the polls.

The CEC was talking to reporters after a meeting at the EC Secretariat.

"Why do you blow things out of proportion when it comes to the necessity for army deployment?" he asked in reply to a query.

In Rakibuddin's view, "The prevailing situation seems good to us. We will be able to hold the polls in a festive mood."

The schedule will be announced by the middle of this month and elections to the split DCC — north and south — will be held at the end of May, he added.

The EC at yesterday's meeting decided to appoint two of its officials as returning officers for each of the two corporations.

It sits today with senior officials of law enforcement agencies to discuss the law and order situation ahead of the polls.

"We want to take decisions regarding the law and order situation after discussions with all concerned. We will take measures to prevent muscle power from influencing the polls,” said the polls chief.

Asked if the commission would take steps to prevent prospective mayoral candidates from engaging in advance electioneering, the CEC said the EC did not have the authority to take action against anyone campaigninginadvance.

The government divided the DCC into two in November last year by amending the relevant law and made it mandatory for the polls to be held by the end of February this year. The previous EC, whose tenure expired early last month, had refused to do so citing time constraints.

Against this backdrop, the government amended the law again on February 28 and extended the time limit for holding the polls by another 90 days, which will pYnirpnn