By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Foreseeing a larger participation of voters in the Assembly election in the State scheduled on February 23, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) P Naik on Friday informed that the number of enrolment this year has increased two-fold as compared to 2008 with over 1 lakh new voters out of which 45,000 are young voters.
Addressing the media following the Election Commission of India announcement of the election schedule for Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura Assemblies here on Friday, Naik disclosed that the total number of voters in the State are 14,90,015 of which 7,53,307 are women while there are 7,36,708 male voters.
Mawlai constituency in East Khasi Hills has the highest number of voters with 33,869 while Dalu in West Garo Hills with 15,979 voters is the smallest constituency in terms of population.
Altogether 9,940 election officials will be deployed in 2,485 polling stations in the State.
To achieve the objective of smooth conduct of the election in militancy-affected Garo Hills and the border areas of West Khasi Hills, Naik said the State Government has urged the Union Ministry of Home Affairs through the Election Commission for more security personnel in addition to the existing 22 companies of para-military forces.
“We have projected a requirement of 6-7 more companies of para-military forces,” Naik said, adding that the State Government was awaiting information with regards to calls for election boycott by militant outfits. “Use of money and muscle power would be equally checked and monitored by the Election Commission,” he added. Naik also informed that the international border as well as the inter-State Meghalaya-Assam border will be classified as sensitive, adding that there is coordination with the Assam Chief Electoral Officer in this regard.
Naik also said that the Election Commission is committed to fulfilling the primary objective of free movement of people during the campaigning period and free polling. Management of EVMs in all the polling stations would be the main challenge for the EC.
“Law and order maintenance is also a big challenge along with checking of violations of the model code of conduct,” he added.
Meanwhile, East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner, Sanjay Goyal, has prohibited wall writings, pasting of posters, papers or defacement in any form, or erecting and displaying of cut-outs, hoardings, and banners on any public properties or public premises.
“It has become necessary to prohibit such acts to ensure free, fair and peaceful conduct of election,” Goyal said, adding that the order shall come into force with immediate effect and remain in force until further orders.
