Manipur assembly elections to be held before March 7: CEC

Imphal, Oct 18 (UNI) Assembly elections in Manipur will be held before March 7 next year, Chief Election Commissioner N.Gopalaswami announced here today.

Addressing the mediapersons, Mr Gopalaswami said the exact election schedule would be announced later.

Most political parties of the state have suggested to conduct elections in phases to ensure free and fair elections.

The CEC said he has discussed the issue with the political parties, state chief cecretary, DGP, Deputy Commissioners, Superintendent of Police and other officials.

The CEC and the Deputy Election Commissioner J P Prakash has held several rounds of discussions on October 17 and 18.

The Election Commission would monitor the elections using video the EC would depute personnel to take video recordings of the campaign, polling and counting.

''It would ensure that the candidates did not violate code of conduct and make sure that correct accounts were filed,'' he added.

Revision of electoral rolls have started and the process would be completed by early November, he said. All the officials have been asked to notify any unusual growth rate or discrepancy, he said.

The state has been facing shortage of officials and the chief secretary was instructed to fill up all the vacant posts as early as possible considering the elections, he said.

The political parties and state officials have demanded adequate number of paramilitary forces and the EC, in consultation with the central government, would take a decision on the actual requirements, he further said.

The chief secretary was directed to ensure that there was one election official for every constituency. Electronic voting machines would be used in all the polling centres.

The EC would not make election identity cards mandatory to cast votes as a few number of people do not have voter identity cards, he added.

The Commission was aware of the threat from the militant groups like NSCN (IM), he said adding adequate measures would be taken up to ensure free and fair elections.

The CEC said he understood the situation of Manipur and considered it as a challenge to conduct polls in the state.

He left for New Delhi today.

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