By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Nearly 2.7 lakh new voters have been enrolled in the electoral rolls for the ensuing Assembly election.
“Total number of voters this time has touched almost 15 lakh. The figure in 2003 was 12.5 lakh while there was a marginal drop in 2008 with a figure of 12.3 lakh enrolled voters,” Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Prashant Naik said here on Wednesday.
According to Naik, Meghalaya has also achieved a unique distinction of becoming the first State in the country for preparing the electoral rolls on its own without outsourcing it.
Further, the CEO informed that the enrolment process is still underway and that anyone who wishes to get his/her name enrolled need only to approach the designated offices to acquire the same.
Assam-Meghalaya joint meeting: Meanwhile, Naik informed that a joint meeting of the Government officials of Meghalaya and Assam will be held in Shillong on February 8 in view of the Assembly elections due on February 23.
The meeting will dwell on the joint efforts for smooth conduct of the Assembly elections.
It is learnt that the meeting will also discuss law and order scenario along the inter-state borders to ensure the peaceful conduct of elections.
“Besides other issues, Langpih would also find place in the discussions,” Naik added.
The meeting will be attended by the Chief Electoral Officers of both states besides the principal secretary of Home department and senior police officials.
Earlier in this month, Meghalaya DGP Kulbir Krishan and Chief Secretary WMS Pariat met their counterparts in Dispur to discuss the need to ensure free and fair polls in the disputed border areas and Assam has asserted of declaring ‘dry days’ for three consecutive days till February 23 in the bordering districts.
The Assam Government has also assured of taking other preventive measures to ensure free and fair polls in the bordering areas of Meghalaya.