IMPHAL, Feb 12: As announced by the Election Commission, the campaign period to the ensuing Bye-election to the 18-Konthoujam Assembly Constituency which is scheduled to be held on February 14 came to an end at 3 pm this afternoon.
On the other hand state Chief Electoral Officer has issued an official notification that, with a view to ensure smooth conduct of the free and fair election and strict compliance of Model Code of Conduct in the said bye-election of 18-Konthoujam Assembly Constituency, it is conveyed for information of general public, contesting candidates, election agents, political parties and their workers that no political functionaries /party workers of any political parties, procession functionaries, campaign functionaries or group etc. who have been called from outside the constituency and who are not voters of the constituency, should leave the constituency immediately after the conclusion of campaign period which concluded this afternoon at 3 pm for the said bye-election.
In the meantime, the official order issued by the state chief electoral officer further mentioned that, any political functionaries /party workers of any political party, procession functionaries, campaign functionaries or group etc. should not continue to remain present in the constituency as their continued presence after the campaign period shall undermine the atmosphere for free and fair poll.
It has further instructed the concern DC/District Election Officer, Imphal West and SSP Imphal West to strictly keep a watch on all movements of vehicles inside the Konthoujam assembly constituency and that any lapses in the regard will be viewed seriously and appropriate actions in consultation with the Election Commission of India will be taken up.
It has further advised all political parties, contesting candidates, election Agents, political workers concerned to kindly co-operate with the District Authorities/police authorities to ensure compliance of the above standing instruction of the Election Commission so as to enable conduct of free and fair Bye-Election to the said constituency.
On the other hand, final round of the State Chief Election Commission held recently in connection with the bye-election to the Kothoujam Assembly Constituency predicted 11 polling stations out of the total 28 polling stations are hyper sensitive and rest 17 polling stations counted as sensitive polling stations and there is no normal polling station in the ensuing bye-election to the Kothoujam which is scheduled to be held on February 14 this month.
Meanwhile a final round of election revision meeting of the state election commission held yesterday chaired by the state chief election commissioner at Imphal have chalked out the final security strategy for the ensuing bye poll.
The official meeting have apprise the need of five companies Central Para military forces with additional security inputs from the state forces. Besides the official decision of the meeting has been submitted to the state Home department for the preparation, the source added.
On the other hand above all these official security measures, all contesting candidates in the said constituency have initiated their hectic house to house close door campaigning following the end of the open election campaigning as per the order of the ECI from this afternoon, besides there is more expectation of election related violence amongst the supporters of the candidates in the said constituency, as per common observations made officially.
