SHILLONG: The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India along with the two other Election Commissioners from the Election Commission of India (ECI) would soon visit the Meghalaya to take stock of the preparedness for the upcoming Assembly polls.
Indicating this, Deputy Election Commissioner Chandra Bhushan Kumar who is in Shillong, told media persons here on Thursday that the ECI team comprising of CEC and the two Election Commissioners would definitely visit the poll-bound Meghalaya, but only after the electoral process in Gujarat was over.
Expressing happiness over the state’s preparations for the polls, Chandra Bhushan Kumar said that preparatory arrangements were on track while identification of polling teams was going on at the moment.
Kumar mentioned that the Election Commission of India would take a call on the date of elections after taking security mobilisation, festivals and educational issues of the state into consideration.
The ECI team during their visit to Shillong also held discussions with political parties besides the Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police of all the districts on Wednesday.
During the meeting, political parties raised issues pertaining to Voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) saying people should see as to what print comes out from the VVPAT after voters cast their votes. T
The State Election Commission has taken measures to disseminate information about the VVPATs which are being used for the first time in Meghalaya
The ECI official also exuded confidence that there was nothing left to doubt about efficacy of EVMs after VVPAT was incorporated into the entire electoral process.
Responding to questions about duration of timing for VVPAT to print slips which takes 7 seconds, Kumar informed that time and number of voters would not be a problem as Election Commission has already taken a call that a polling station in urban area should not have more than 1400 voters whereas the number of voters is restricted to 1200 in polling stations in rural areas.
He also informed that the number of polling station in the state had been increased to 3082 with an increase of 597 polling station since the 2013 Assembly elections
When asked about certain polling stations which stand vulnerable due to Human–wildlife, Kumar said South West Garo Hills and West Garo Hills District Administration were geared up as far as the issue was concerned and Forest and Wildlife department would also be roped in to address the concern.
The ECI official informed that even Private sectors organisations were bound to allow their employees leave to enable them to cast their votes during the Assembly polls.