From Our Correspondent

Agartala: Deputy Election Commissioner Binodh Justshi on Wednesday held a meeting with the representatives from all the political parities to know their views over the election preparation.

Assembly elections in three northeastern states — Meghalaya, Tripura and Nagaland, which have 60 seats each — are scheduled for February next year. Deputy Election Commissioner Vinod Zutshi Wednesday held a series of meetings here with all recognised political parties, including the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and the main opposition Congress, and all the eight district magistrates and superintendents of police.

“The deputy election commissioner will also hold a meeting with the director general of Tripura Police Thursday and discuss security arrangements for the ensuing elections,” Tripura’s Chief Election Officer (CEO) Ashutosh Jindal told reporters.

In the meeting, CPM spokesman, Goutam Das, alleged that theopposition Congress has been trying to use outlawed group to win the 2013 Assembly election.

“We have got specific inputs over the nexus between Congress and outlawed group and there is a possibility of infiltration of insurgents from across the border before the election” he told the Dy Election Commissioner. He also urged the EC emissary to seal the Indo-Bangla border well before the election to prevent cross border movement of insurgents.

Apart from militant issue, CPM spokesman also expressed dismay the way claims and objections are allowed to submit to EROs and AEROs. “The EROs or AEROs must conduct hearing only on the basis of application submitted in prescribed forms”, he opined in the meeting.

Congress MLA Subal Bhowmik who attended the all-party meeting on behalf of the party told reporters the Dy Election Commissioner was surprised by the discrepancy in the draft election rolls.

The Dy Election Commissioner assured that the EC would ensure preparation of error free photo electoral rolls for the 2013 Assembly election.

“We have given specific information about the forged voters who have got included in the draft photo electoral rolls. He told us to look into matter”, he said.

The EC has appointed four observers after rescheduling the ongoing revision of electoral rolls in Tripura following the Congress’ complaint about discrepancies in the voters’ lists.

On being asked about CPM’s allegation regarding party’s nexus with outlawed group, Bhowmik shot back: “If CPM has specific inputs, they can give it to police for taking necessary steps. These are blank fire to divert the attention of common people”.

On Thursday, the EC emissary is scheduled to fly for Delhi. However, source said, the Dy EC may go for ‘field visit’ to have a first hand knowledge on the ongoing exercise of revision of electoral rolls. (With inputs from IANS)