New Delhi, June 11 (IANS) New Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) V.S. Sampath Monday said the Election Commission (EC) would be making an announcement on the presidential election schedule soon.

All preparatory works are in full swing and an announcement regarding the election schedule is due shortly, Sampath told reporters here soon after taking charge as the 18th poll panel chief, succeeding S.Y. Quraishi.

Let there be some surprise, he said when asked when the panel will announce the schedule for the presidential elections.

An Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1973 batch, Sampath has held important positions in the government of Andhra Pradesh and in the central government.

In his maiden press conference as the poll panel chief, he said the immediate task at hand for him was the conduct of elections to the offices of the president and vice president of India.

He also said an orientation workshop for the returning officer, assistant returning officers and presiding officers for the presidential poll was held last month.

President Pratibha Patil's term ends on July 24 and the poll panel's notification will set the process in motion. Officials have hinted that the notification will be issued this week.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukjerjee is emerging as a frontrunner for the top position, although the Congress party is keeping its cards close to the chest about the candidature.

Nationalist Congress Party leader P.A. Sangma has also thrown his hat in the ring saying that he has support of some political parties.