The code of conduct will become applicable after the announcement of poll dates and not after the notification, Gill said. The notification comes later than the poll dates.

Gill said that the revision of electoral rolls, which is a legal requirement, was initiated by the commission in February 1999. About 1.5 crore new voters will be enrolled. This exercise has been half done and the work will be completed on July 21.

It had been indicated to the commission in the all-party meet on Monday that if this exercise was aborted, it could be legally challenged, the CEC pointed out.

Reacting to thecommission's announcement, BJP spokesman Venkaiah Naidu said, "We had suggested June to the Election Commission in the interest of the country and keeping in view the convenience of the voters. Now that the EC has taken a decision, we will go with it."

He added, "June or September does not make any difference for us because of a strong pro-Vajpayee wave flying across the country along with a strong anti-Congress wave. It will penetrate further and reach even interiors, and the Congress will repent for having suggested late elections."

Briefing mediapersons at the Congress headquarters, party spokesman Ajit Jogi welcomed the decision of the EC to hold elections in the months of September and October. He said that the party in its meeting with EC had suggested to hold polls after the revision of electoral rolls.

For the first time in its 50-year history, events have confronted the EC with the duty of carrying out general elections in the most difficult period of the year, Gill said. This is accepted byall the parties.

The problem is compounded by the coming elections to the nine assemblies, Gill said. The need of studies, discussions and planning of arrangement makes it evident that the commission cannot instantly and blindly announce a poll schedule. The crisis leading to the need for another election after 13 months is not of the commission's making, the CEC pointed out.

The commission's sole constitutional duty is now to ensure that the elections are held in "good time" to enable the Lok Sabha meet before October 21, he said.

Gill said that the commission is faced with finding a suitable schedule in the most difficult climatic period, between May and September-end. An unprecedented heat wave is on, followed with the possibility of floods. So, the EC had to choose the least possible inconvenient option.

The CEC said that the Indian election is the largest organised operation in the world, with 60 crore voters, 8 lakh polling stations, 40 lakh polling staff, lakhs of Central paramilitary forces,and the mobilisation of resources. Central police planning requires a mininum of 4 weeks of repeated and intensive discussion.

The EC has also to organise a meeting with the chief secretaries and chief electoral officers of states, to know their views, and to make its own comprehensive arrangements to meet all eventualities, Gill said, adding that the commission's finalisation of the election schedule follows this intensive effort that takes place over a minimum period of a month.