788 polling stations to be set up for Oct 12 polls
SHILLONG: Altogether 587717 voters including 297236 male and 290481 female voters will decide the fate of the candidates in the upcoming GHADC polls slated on October 12.
The returning officer of GHADC polls, Pravin Bakshi, said that altogether there will be 788 polling stations set up for the elections including 344 polling stations in West Garo Hills, 122 in East Garo Hills, 102 South Garo Hills, 131 in North Garo Hills and 89 polling stations in South West Garo Hills.
Out of 788 polling stations, 255 have been classified as hyper sensitive while 108 have been categorised as sensitive.
The maximum number of hyper sensitive and sensitive polling stations is located in West Garo Hills which accounts for 98 hyper sensitive and 10 sensitive followed by North Garo Hills which has 55 hyper sensitive and 42 sensitive polling stations.
West Garo Hills has the highest number of voters with 277639 including 138900 males and 138739 females.
Chief Secretary holds review meeting on polls
Chief Secretary Barkos Warjri on Thursday held a review meeting on the upcoming GHADC elections on October 12 here at DRDA conference hall in Tura with officials of the district administration and police.
The meeting was attended by the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police of all the five districts of Garo Hills who briefed the chief secretary about poll preparedness in the run up to the election.
Briefing the media later, Warjri said that preparations have been done in all the five districts for the council polls with all the factors having been discussed and taken into account.
On insurgency issues Warjri said that the Meghalaya Police was geared up for the polls and that necessary precaution and vigil would be maintained in Garo Hills. “The police will be on the job,” he added.
On the issue of several organizations in Garo Hills demanding the exclusion of non-tribals from participating and contesting in the elections, he said that the elections would be held as per the provisions laid down.
Meanwhile, the administrations of all five districts highlighted the need for deployment of additional paramilitary troops for ensuring the smooth conduct of pollsThey also briefed the chief secretary on the publication of the final roll for the Council.
The election notification will be issued on September 14 when the election code of conduct and prohibitory order will be in force. The last date for the filing of nominations as well as scrutiny of candidates has been set for September 21. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is September 24 and the counting of votes will be held on October 15. The meeting was also attended by Additional Director General of Police S.B. Singh, Inspector General of Police (Operations) G.H.P. Raju and officials of the district administration from all the districts. Meanwhile, the Commissioner and Secretary, District Council Affairs Department, on Thursday informed that the State Government has delegated the deputy commissioners, additional deputy commissioners, SDOs (Sadar) and extra assistant commissioners of West Garo Hills, East Garo Hills, South Garo Hills, North Garo Hills and South West Garo Hills for exercising or discharging all the powers and duties for the purpose of conduct of the GHADC polls.
