Election Commissioner Md Alamgir yesterday said a "constitutional gap" will be created if the next general election is not held by January 29 next year.

"There has to be an election in any situation, otherwise there will be a constitutional gap. If that gap is created, there will be chaos in the country," he said. "The Election Commission cannot allow that to happen," Alamgir told reporters at his office while answering journalists' questions.

The current parliament expires on January 29. According to the constitution, the national election must be held at any time in the final 90 days of the parliament's tenure. The 90-day countdown starts on November 1.

His comment comes at a time  when the ruling Awami League and opposition BNP and several other parties are at odds over the polls-time government.

AL says the polls will be held under the current government as per the constitution, while the opposition is demanding a caretaker government.

The opposition also wants reconstitution of the current EC.

Alamgir said there might be some sort of "political crisis" over such disagreements between political parties, but that doesn't mean that the parties are not in the course of election.

Meanwhile, another Election Commissioner Anisur Rahman while talking at a programme in Gazipur yesterday said political parties should have interest in participating in  elections.

"It is not our duty to bring all parties into the election, we will not force anyone to take part in it.. but we are inviting all to the polls anyway," he added.

Anisur also said this time ballot papers will reach the polling centres on the morning of voting day.