IMPHAL, January 29: The office of the Chief Electoral Officer of Manipur has started hectic preparation for the ensuing Lok Sabha election with the commencement of a two-day training for deputy commissioners and superintendant of police in the state.
State CEO O Nabakishore stated that the training has been performed under strict guidelines from the Election Commission of India on different aspects of electioneering, including polling official, polling stations, security arrangement and machineries.
He further notified that the ECI had issued strict directives on monitoring paid news during the Lok Sabha elections and appealed to media firms for extension of cooperation for its restriction. A committee to be set up by the state CEO in collaboration with DIPR will be monitoring the occurrence of such news, he announced. If any such cases are discovered then it will be reported straight to the Press Club of India and to the concerned authority in the case of electronic media, he stated.
Nabakishore further informed that he will be attending as the state representative at a meeting convened by the Election Commission of India to discuss the details on preparation for the LS elections on February 10, 2014.
In connection with the meeting, the concerned DCs have been directed to compile a survey report regarding the ineffectiveness of communication networks and exclusive problems prevailing in different areas, mainly those in the hill districts, he stated. He expressed his opinion that the communication problems can be rectified through improvement in mobile network speed or using satellite phones. He added that his suggestions on sorting out the problems will be submitted during the meeting.
He said the elections in most likelihood will be conducted next April and it could be carried out in one phase or in two phases. If it is held in one phase 150 company of paramilitary forces will be needed, otherwise the requirement will be 75 companies, in addition to the state forces, he stated.
He further said that the State ECO will issue new Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) for the fresh voters but EPIC can be issued to other voters on payment of Rs 30. The department has procured machines and materials for preparation of one lakh new cards.
He said individuals whose name had been deleted from the electoral roll can complain to their respective SDO and make necessary rectification by filling up form 6. The office is conducting a continuous updating exercise so that the final roll for the Lok Sabha elections could be hundred percent accurate.
He added that a Public Interest Litigation was filed in the court against the ECI and ECO respectively. The PIL prayed that if EVM is going to be used in the election Voter Verifiable Paper Audi Train (VVPAT) should be attached. We are waiting for a reply from the Election Commission of India (ECI) in this connection, he added.