SHILLONG, DEC 23: The Election Commission today assured conduct of a peaceful, transparent and credible election in Meghalaya, which will be held early next year.
“We have assured all the political parties (who have raised various issues before the EC) that the Commission will ensure that polling process will be peaceful and transparent and a credible election would be held in the state,” Chief Election Commissioner AK Joti said.
Winding up his two-day visit to the state to review the state’s poll preparedness on Saturday, Joti said, “We are happy to learn that the preparedness of state officials was of good nature. Lots of good actions have been taken up by the CEO’s office and others.”
Stating that election is a multi dimensional process as it not involves only one department and it affects all citizens and voters, he said that the EC will take a view on the assessment made in the past two days.
The chief election commissioner also assured that the Commission will ensure that illegal or unauthorize distribution of money should not take place even as he informed that expenditure observers will be posted in all the 60 Assembly constituencies of the state.
“Expenditure monitoring will be done very closedly. We will set up three teams of flying squads and surveillance teams each in all the constituencies,” he said adding “Sensitivity of the EC is of very good nature and we will make sure efforts that already underway will be implement to ensure distribution of illegal money will not be allowed.”
Informing that Air intelligence unit will also be set up at Guwahati Airport; Joti said that income tax officials will also be posted in all the eleven districts to take prompt action whenever they received complains.
On the law & order and security arrangement, he said that the Commission have asked the home department and state police to monitor the inter-state and international borders to keep check on arms smuggling, drugs, and liquors from neigbouring states and Bangladesh.
“We have asked the home department and SPs to monitor the borders with other states and also International border where BSF are already deployed,” he said.
Meghalaya has at least 19 Assembly constituencies which are having inter-state border with Assam and 11 constituencies along the international border with Bangladesh.
Stating that the state police have done mapping of sensitive areas and have sent the requirement of para-military forces, Joti further assured that the central armed police force (CAPF) will be deployed in all sensitive areas where security aspect has to be taken care adding all critical polling stations will also be covered.
Asked, the chief election commissioner however said that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will decide on the number of para military forces to be deployed in the state based on the assessment made by the state authorities and recommendation of the EC.
Whether Representative of People’s Act should be amended to prevent tainted candidates from contesting elections, Joti said that the matter is under consideration of the government. “We have sent our recommendations and opinions but as far as conviction is concerned a period of two years and candidates are disqualified and this is implemented uniformly in the entire country,” he said.
By Our Reporter
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