Imphal, Dec 14: NNN The Election commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday announced that cameras would be installed in certain remote areas of Manipur for the purpose of live broadcasting of polling in the forthcoming polls to the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly due next February while the commission has also decided to rope in MLAs who are misusing local area development funds in the polls.
This was announced by Chief Election Commissioner (CIC) Dr. SY Quraishi while talking to the media in Imphal today.
Earlier the ECI chief, who arrived here this morning along with his four- member team, also met with leaders of six different political parties of the State during which Quraishi held consultations with the leaders on the upcoming general elections and discussed in length about their views and opinion.
“All the political parties have suggested having only one single day for voting in the elections showing their apprehension the possibility of double voting”, Qureshi told the media after the meeting.
The six political parties apprised him on the present situation of the State and indicated of possible proxy voting. They also suggested that cameras must be installed in every polling booth, the ECI chief added.
The parties also demanded that micro observers should also be appointed for every polling booth, particularly in the hill districts of Manipur where armed militants move freely and said sufficient deployment of Central security forces is to be ensured so as to make free and fair polls, Quraishi further told the media.
Qureshi repeated MLAs who are misusing their local area development funds will be strictly monitored by ECI. He stated this when the political parties present at the discussion told him that some MLAs are using their local area development funds to woo voters and spending them in preparations for the polls.
Polling stations will be classified as normal, sensitive, hyper-sensitive, apart from this the ECI has also made some changes with regard to voting where it would study with great care if the voting percentage goes up above 90 per cent, and if 20 per cent -25 per cent voting is done then the ECI would take it as vulnerable, Quraishi said.
He also assured that adequate Central security forces will be provided for the general elections to ensure Manipur to have free and fair voting.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/camera-to-be-installed-for-manipur-elections/
