New Delhi, March 5: Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel on Monday raised questions on the Election Commission not announcing dates for general elections and asked whether it was waiting for the prime minister's "official" travel programme "to conclude". He also accused the poll body of giving a long rope to the government to campaign at the cost of the state exchequer.

"Is the Election Commission waiting for the Prime Minister's “official” travel programs to conclude before announcing dates for general elections (sic). Election Commission Giving Modi Govt a 'Long Rope', Says Congress' Ahmed Patel, Questions Delay in Release of 2019 Lok Sabha Poll Dates.

"Using government functions as an excuse for political rallies, flooding TV/radio and print with political ads. It is seems that EC is giving the government a long rope to campaign till the last moment using public money," he said on Twitter.

Last time, the dates for Lok Sabha polls were announced in the first week of March.