SHILLONG, MAR 5: The union government has sanctioned Rs 29 crore for conducting elections for the Shillong and Tura Lok Sabha seats in Meghalaya even as the Election Commission of India (ECI) has put Rs 70 lakhs ceiling on the expenditure of the candidates contesting the two Lok Sabha seats in Meghalaya.
Lok Sabha elections for the two seats in Meghalaya will be held during the second phase on April 9. The Meghalaya state election department has also requested the union government to sanction 79 companies of para military forces to ensure free and fair elections.
Meghalaya chief electoral officer Prashant Naik told reporters immediately after the ECI announced the dates for Lok Sabha polls on Wednesday, “Rupees twenty-nine crore will be borne by the centre for the conduct of Lok Sabha elections in the state.”
Meghalaya has a total of 2562 polling stations of which 1633 are in Shillong constituencies and 929 in Tura constituencies.
Naik said of the total polling stations, 138 are located in 120 locations along the inter-state borders with Assam, while 90 polling stations are situated in 79 locations along the Indo-Bangla border with neighbouring Bangladesh.
During the last 2009 Lok Sabha elections, the number of polling stations in Meghalaya was only 2117.
“The increase in the number of polling stations along the international border is due to increase in population and the other reason is more polling stations have been created for the convenience of the voters as earlier the voters had to walk a distant of more than 3 km,” Naik informed.
Informing that assessments on the hyper-sensitive and sensitive polling stations have been done, Naik said as the political parties are yet to declared their candidates it cannot be disclosed now.
Meghalaya government has requested for 79 companies of paramilitary forces for maintaining law and order during the electioneering process for Shillong and Tura Lok Sabha constituencies compared to the last election where only 25 companies were deployed.
“We have asked for 79 companies of paramilitary forces for the conduct of elections,” he said while informing that assessment on the militancy infested areas of Garo Hills region has also been made.
Naik informed that the BSF will also be asked to step up its vigil along the international border with Bangladesh.
During the elections, 3000 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be used.
Naik informed that EVMs will be having the None Of The Above (NOTA) option for the first time in the Lok Sabha elections. He said as per the Supreme Court judgment, the NOTA option will be implemented for the first time during the ensuing elections.
Naik said, “Voters will be provided with the NOTA option if they don’t want to cast their votes for any candidates in the two parliamentary constituencies.”
When queried what the election department will do in case majority of the voters press the NOTA button, Naik informed that the ECI is yet to come out with direction on this matter. He said, “I assume in case of such instance, fresh poll is likely to be held,” he added.
Another feature of the EVMs in this election is that the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) will be also implemented in few selected states but not in Meghalaya.
Naik informed that ECI has also directed all the states to ensure that basic facilities like drinking water, toilets and other should be introduced in all the polling stations.
He said that a total of 10248 polling officials will be deputed to the 2562 polling stations.
Over 15 lakh voters will be casting their votes in the upcoming elections. “As on January 15, 2014, the total number of voters in the two parliamentary seats is 15, 53, 028,” Naik said.
Of the 15.53 lakh voters, 9.68 lakh are from Shillong parliamentary constituency and 2.88 lakh from Tura constituency, with female voters outnumbering their counterparts.
On dual voters, Naik said that the necessary action will be taken against those voters having enrolment in two states if specific complaints are brought to the notice of the department.
With the announcement of the elections, Naik also informed that the model code of conduct have come into immediate effect.
Naik, however, clarified that there are no restrictions for the state government to pass any resolutions or bills during the ensuing budget session of the State Legislative Assembly to be held on March 7 and it will not be considered as violation of the model code of conduct.
On the candidates’ election expenses, Naik said that ECI has prescribed Rs 70 lakhs as ceiling per candidate except for states like Arunachal Pradesh, Goa and Sikkim which is fixed at only Rs 54 lakh adding security deposit will be Rs 25, 000.- By Our Reporter
+ There are no comments
Add yours