New Delhi India January 5 ANI The Election Commission of India ECI held a virtual meeting with representatives of political parties, Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, State Police Nodal Officer and Chief Electoral Officer CEO of Manipur on Wednesday.
Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra along with Election Commissioners Rajiv Kumar and Anup Chandra Pandey and other officials from the Election Commission of India held a virtual meeting to review the poll preparedness for the forthcoming Assembly elections in the northeastern state.
The Commission emphasized the importance of the conduct of safe elections with 100 per cent COVID 19 vaccination of all polling staff, proper sanitization and social distancing at the polling stations during the review meeting, according to ECI officials.
The CEC expressed his concern to Chief Secretary, Manipur, about the low vaccination rate in the state and asked for a delay in the process.
ECI sources also told that representatives of political parties - All India Trinamool CongressIndia Trinamool Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India, Nationalist Congress Party, Naga People's Front NPF National People's Party, Peoples Democratic Alliance -- came to meet the Commission via video conferencing.
The political parties raised concerns about the use of money power, illicit liquor, narcotics drugs, and intimidation to influence voters. Political parties requested strict vigil on election expenses by candidates to ensure a fair and free poll.
The political parties demanded the deployment of adequate security forces during the election process and other relevant measures while expressing concerns about pre-pool violence. The political parties also raised concerns about the implementation of strict covid protocols for the safety of everyone.
The Commission assured representatives that it has taken cognizance of the suggestions, issues, and concerns of the political parties, and that ECI is committed to running free, fair, participative, inclusive, inducement free and COVID-safe elections in the state.
Concerns raised about excessive use of money and other inducements to influence voters, the Commission reiterated that it has zero tolerance for misuse of money or muscle power or partisan behavior of State machinery vitiating free and fair elections.
CEC Sushil Chandra said that strict action would be taken against such erring officials. He added that Expenditure Observers will be deployed for a strict vigil to ensure inducement-free elections in the State.
The commission assured the representatives that ECI will ensure that there are measures like webcasting videography, deployment of CAPF personnel, and micro observers wherever necessary in identified vulnerable polling areas, in order to ensure free, fair, and peaceful polling.
The Commission stated that the option of a Postal Ballot facility would be provided for the first time in the State during the election for absentee voters, which includes 80 senior citizens, PwD electors, and COVID 19 suspects or affected persons. The postal ballot facility is an optional facility that ensures total secrecy of voting.
Representatives of candidates will be present during the process and the entire process will be videographed. In the state, 14,565 persons with disabilities and over 41,867 senior citizens have been mapped.
The Commission discussed the administrative, logistics, budget, law and order, and election-related arrangements with the Chief Secretary and State Police Nodal Officer. The Commission looked at the overall poll preparedness and law and order matters with the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police.
The Commission revisited some extant norms, keeping in view COVID 19 social-distancing norms. The maximum number of electors' norm at a polling station has been reduced from 1500 to 1250. There will be a decrease in the number of electors per polling station.
The CEO was directed to ensure minimum facilities like drinking water, toilets with water facilities, ramps, wheelchairs, electricity, shades, etc. All polling stations have at least one polling station. The Commission has directed the identification of communication shadow polling stations for alternative arrangements.
The Commission ordered that deposition of licensed arms in the state be expedited while reviewing the law-and-order issues. It was directed to make sure distribution of liquor, drugs, freebies, and cash is checked and the electoral process is not vitiated with illegal activities. The strict vigil on the international border was directed by the CEC to make sure there was no unlawful transit and infiltration across borders.
The CEO was directed by the Commission to ensure quick disposal of complaints received during the electoral process and to have a robust mechanism for the same. The electoral roll was published today, and there are 20,34, 966 electors enrolled in the state. The gender ratio in the state has gone up to 1065 from 1046 in 2017 and 38,384 first-time electors 18 -- 19 years old in the state, which is 2.6 per cent of total electors compared to 0.56 per cent in 2017.