Shillong, Feb 12: A team of the Election Commission to be led by the Chief Election Commissioner, Om Prakash Rawat along with Election Commissioners, Sunil Arora and Ashok Lavasa will visit poll-bound Meghalaya for two days on February 15 and 16.
The team will oversee poll preparedness and hold meetings with superintendents of police and deputy commissioners of all districts, official of income tax, excise narcotics bureau for poll preparedness.
The Election Commission will also hold a meeting with the chief secretary of Meghalaya and Assam to discuss on inter-state related issues for ensuring smooth conduct of the February 27 Assembly polls in the state.
“The meeting with the chief secretaries of the two states through video conferencing (the date of which is yet to be fixed),†Meghalaya chief electoral officer, F.R. Kharkongor told reporters on Monday.
He said that the meeting will be talking on inter-state related issues especially in view that 172 of the 3083 polling stations are bordering with neighbouring Assam.
Moreover, Kharkongor said it is also to ensure smooth flow of logistics, manpower and other aspects to these polling stations. According to him, a total of 102 polling parties would have to move via Assam.
The chief electoral officer further informed that a team of the Election Commission will also be visiting the poll bound state on February 15-16 after visiting Nagaland, which will also go to polls along with Meghalaya on February 27.
“The meeting is to review the poll preparedness of the state,†Kharkongor said while informing that the team will have meetings with the chief secretary, deputy commissioners, and superintendents of police, officials of the income tax, narcotic bureau and excise.
With Meghalaya sharing a total of 443 km long border with Bangladesh, the CEO however said there is not much problem along the international border.
“However, strict watch is made through the inter-state check post by the police in collaboration with the BSF,†he said.
Asked, Kharkongor informed that the 80 remaining companies of paramilitary forces will be arriving in Meghalaya only after the Tripura Assembly elections.
Of the 100 companies sanctioned for the state, he said that 55 will be deployed in Khasi-Jaintia Hills region while 45 for Garo Hills regions. While 10 companies are existing, another 10 companies have arrived since January 31.
Meanwhile, 633 polling stations have been identified as ‘vulnerable’, 315 as ‘critical’ while 75 both vulnerable and critical.
On the steps taken to ensure smooth conduct of polls, Kharkongor said, so far the number of arms deposited is 6,391 while non-bailable warrants have been issued to 227.
“Over Rs 2.5 lakh cash was seized besides 125 arms, 712 litres of liquor and 6kgs of explosives,†he said.