Bengaluru: With the State Assembly polls likely to take place in the first week of May, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has begun preparations in right earnest, with an ECI team arriving in the State capital yesterday.

The ECI team, headed by senior official Umesh Sinha, comprises of other officials namely — Sandeep Saxena, Dhirendra Oza, Nikhil Kumar and B.C. Patra.

Soon as the team arrived in Bengaluru, the officials held a prolonged meeting with the State Chief Electoral Officer and received inputs on the geographic details of Assembly segments, population, electoral rolls, precautions to be taken for fair polls, election dates, etc.

The team was also apprised about the dates of festivals,   major fairs etc., according to sources.

After holding discussion with the State Chief Electoral Officer, the ECI team has convened a meeting of Deputy Commissioners, SPs and other senior officers of all districts of the State at Vidhana Soudha today, during which it will receive inputs from the respective District Administration on poll preparedness.

The team is also scheduled to hold a meeting with Nodal Officer, Chief Secretary, DG&IGP and other top authorities of the State tomorrow.