By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Despite the 36-hour bandh called by the proscribed HNLC, the State is expecting maximum participation in the voting process to be conducted to elect the 9th Legislative Assembly on Saturday.
Chief Electoral Officer P Naik on Friday said that every effort has been made to create awareness among the masses.
“The power lies in the hands of the people. After all, they decide the outcome of the whole election process. We have done our part, now it is up to the people to do theirs,” Naik said while adding that the people are wise and literate enough to understand the value of their franchise.
While assuring that tight security measures have been put in place to ensure that people cast their votes without fear the CEO said despite all the measures taken only people can make the entire process successful.
The election department till Friday evening organised several awareness programmes to encourage people to take part in the voting process.
Road shows including concerts, pasting of posters, banners etc. along with an SMS campaign was initiated by the election department to make maximum voters exercise their franchise.
The Shillong Times came across a few voters who were of the view that the bandh is a mere attempt to suppress democracy but the same will not gain ground as the so-called militants’ ideas cannot be accepted in a democratic country.
“At first, I thought I will not go to the polling station and cast my vote simply because I don’t support any candidate. But after I heard of the HNLC bandh on polling day, I changed my mind and decided to go and vote. Democracy cannot be suppressed,” a senior citizen said here on Friday.
Meanwhile, a government servant said that the HNLC is unwelcome. “They are yet to grab the meaning of democracy. In fact they should be thankful that we are living in a democratic country where we get to choose our own representatives,” she asserted.
The district administration, meanwhile has made arrangements to ferry public to the polling stations across the State to facilitate proper voting.
There are over 15 lakh voters (1503907) who will cast their ballot on the polling day on Saturday and as many as 345 candidates are in the fray for the 60 seats for the 9th Assembly.
Our Garo Hills correspondent adds
Street plays organized to endorse ethical voting
With an aim to maximize the number of electors participating in the polls to the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly and set a trend of moral voting, the office of the Deputy Commissioner (Election) & District Election Officer, West Garo Hills, Tura organized street plays as part of the SVEEP (Systematic Voters Education and Electors Participation) Campaign.
The Deputy Commissioner informed that the street plays were organized in order to change the mindset of the general electors to do away with influence of money or muscle power in elections.
He said, engagement of the A’chik Theatre to perform the street plays was part of the environment building measure in view of the February 23 polls .
The street plays were performed in various prominent locations, like Rongram Bazaar, Tura Supermarket, Mukdangra Weekly Haat, Najing Bazaar, Babadam Weekly market, Garobadha Bazaar and Dadenggre Bazaar.
Posters and leaflets were distributed to the general public and election promo musical numbers were also composed by prominent local band Titans and regularly played as part of the awareness campaign.
The DC said, this special initiative under SVEEP plan is expected to enhance participation of electors especially youth and women electors and provide them with a sense of citizenship, empowerment, pride and participation and also inspire them to exercise their franchise.
Meanwhile, North Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner has also appealed to the people of North Garo Hills to come out in large numbers and exercise their franchise on the polling day on 23rd February.
He also appealed to all the polling personnel under North Garo Hills to cast their votes through postal ballot papers.