Assam govt lending cooperation with Meghalaya for polls

, Feb 8:

government on Friday said it is lending full cooperation to neighbouring

especially in the disputed areas along the inter-state border as the state goes to elections on February 23, officials said.

"Assam has assured its full-cooperation for free and fair conduct of the elections especially in the border areas," state chief electoral officer (CEO) P Naik told reporters after the joint meeting with Assam counterpart held in the capital on Friday.

The meeting was attended by officials of Assam and Meghalaya government including the chief electoral officers, principal secretaries of Home besides top police officials. Naik said the issue pertaining to maintenance of law and order for the upcoming 2013 Assembly elections, was dwelt at length during the meeting. "Both the states discussed about the general maintenance of law and order in the border areas," he said.

There are 138 polling stations along the one-kilometre radius of the inter-state borders out of which certain polling stations are declared sensitive and hyper-sensitive. According to Naik, there are some polling stations where polling officials will have to reach through Assam and both the states have extended their cooperation in this regard. "We also discussed on the requirement of transportation of troops for the election," he said.

PTI