IT News
Imphal, Dec 14:
Chief Electoral Officer, (CEO), Manipur, Rajesh Agrawal sought support of the media fraternity to ensure free and fair election in the forthcoming 12th General Election to Manipur Legislative Assembly, 2022. He also appealed to the media persons to verify any election related information with the concerned officers and officials prior to dissemination in order to avoid any misinformation.
CEO, Manipur was addressing the media persons in a Press Conference held at the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, (CEO), Lamphelpat, today.
While briefing the media, Rajesh Agrawal highlighted various activities taken up by the Office of the CEO, Manipur for smooth conduct of the forthcoming Election. He informed that the period for filing claims and objections for Special Summary Revision (SSR) of Photo Electoral Rolls with reference to 01.01.2022 has been completed. Over 1.4 lakh forms have been received during the SSR period and disposal of forms is going on and will be completed by 20th December, 2021.
He said that the list of additions/deletions during Continuous updation has been made available on the CEO’s website. As per schedule fixed by Election Commission of India, Final Electoral Rolls will be published on 5th January, 2022.Copies of Final Electoral Rolls will be made available free of cost to all recognized political parties. The electoral rolls will also be uploaded at the website of Chief Electoral Officer, Manipur.
First Level Checking of M3-EVMs was completed for all the districts on 10th November, 2021. An additional 1000 VVPATs have been received from Assam and distributed to all districts. FLC of these machines is scheduled to start from 21st December, 2021. EVM Demonstration Centres have been set up in all offices of District Election Officers and Returning Officers to make voters familiarize with the functioning of EVMs. Demonstration Vans will also be launched and travel around the polling stations across the State.
Training of Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers on various topics including Qualification, Disqualification, Nomination, Scrutiny, Model Code of Conduct, Expenditure, Postal Ballots, EVMs, Poll Day Arrangement etc. has been completed. All District Election Officers have also been trained. An evaluation programme was also held on 10th December, 2021. Two Master Trainers per Assembly Constituency have been given hands-on training on EVMs. Assistant Expenditure Observers and District Nodal Officers for Election Expenditure Management have also been identified and trained on 9th and 10th December, 2021.
Three rounds of meetings have been held with recognized National/State Political Parties functioning in Manipur. The political parties have been extending full cooperation during the Revision period and in the run up to the conduct of the ensuing General Election by giving valuable feedback and suggestions. A training cum sensitization programme on EVMs was also conducted on 5th December, 2021. A meeting was also held today at the Conference Hall of CEO, Manipur wherein they have been briefed about the preparations taking place for the conduct of General Election. A training programme for political parties on Model Code of Conduct, Expenditure, c-Vigil, Pre Certification of Political Advertisement, IT Apps will also be arranged soon. Political parties have also been informed on the requirement of publication of criminal antecedents of candidates in newspapers/TV on three different occasions.
Six Assembly Constituencies have been identified as Expenditure Sensitive Constituencies- 7-Andro, 22-Wangoi, 23-Mayang Imphal, 28-Thanga 30-Lilong, 58-Churachandpur (ST). Flying Squad Team, Static Surveillance Team, Video Surveillance Team, Video Viewing Team, Accounting Team have been appointed and trained. All these teams will be activated immediately on announcement of elections. A meeting with Enforcement Agencies – Income Tax, Customs, Excise, Narcotics, BSF, CISF, Enforcement Directorate was also held on 10th December, 2021 and deliberated at length on the expenditure aspects.
Sector Officers and Sector Police Officers have been appointed and trained and are currently visiting the polling stations to identify vulnerable locations and voter segments. Steps also have been taken to identify history sheeters, trouble mongers and persons causing vulnerability and are bound down under Cr.P.C. As a measure to curb pre poll violence, 8648 licensed arms have been made deposited to the nearest police stations out of 25299 till date. Besides deploying Micro Observers, all Critical & Vulnerable polling stations will be brought under Webcasting/Videography. Additional CAPF will also be deployed in such polling stations.
Vehicle requirements have been worked out. 6588 vehicles of different types shall be required for polling personnel and security personnel on poll duty. CEO, Manipur has also written to Chief Secretary, Assam and Nagaland to extend cooperation in requisition of around 3000 heavy vehicles for interstate transportation of CAPF.
With regard to COVID, a day-long consultation programme with State Health Nodal Officer, Medical Superintendents of RIMS & JNIMs, District Health Nodal Officers including CMOs and Medical Superintendents was held on 5th December, 2021 and deliberated on the protocols to be followed during the ensuing Elections. The Election Commission of India has also come up with “Broad Guidelines for Conduct of General Election/Bye Election during COVID-19” and CEO, Manipur and all District Functionaries are committed to follow in letter and spirit and issue necessary instructions to candidates, political parties and voters at large. A state specific plan with respect to COVID Management is also being prepared. It was also decided to operationalize Cashless treatment of persons on election duty, Rapid Response Team, Air Ambulance and 24/7 Control Rooms.
The press conference was attended by Additional CEO, Manipur, Naorem Praveen Singh, Joint CEO, Manipur, Ramananda Nongmeikapam, Joint CEO (II), Manipur, Md. S. Daulat Khan, Coordinator, PMC & Nodal Officer (Media), W. Phajatombi.