EC to announce poll date after security check

SHILLONG: Deputy Election Commissioner Chandra Bhushan Kumar told media persons here that the EC will announce the date of elections after taking into consideration security mobilisation, festivals and academic issues.
However, prior to this, a team of three officials led by the chief of the Election Commission of India will visit Meghalaya to take stock of its poll preparedness.
Kumar said that the EC team will visit after the Gujarat election process.
Kumar expressed happiness over the state’s preparations and said arrangements are on track. Identification of polling teams is being conducted.
EC will announce the dates of elections after taking into consideration security mobilisation, festivals and academic issues.
Kumar and his team, during their meeting with political parties, had to face questions on the authenticity of voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT).
The deputy poll chief assured that with the introduction of VVPAT, there was nothing to doubt about the functioning of EVMs.
Responding to more queries, Kumar said it takes seven seconds to print VVPAT slips and time will not be a factor because the EC has put limit on the number of voters at each booth.
While an urban booth will not have more than 1,400 voters, the upper limit in rural areas is 1,200.
The State Election Commission has already taken measures to disseminate information about VVPATs which will be used for the first time in Meghalaya in next year’s elections.
He also informed that the number of polling stations in the state has been increased to 3,082, an increase of 597 since the 2013 Assembly elections.
When asked about certain polling stations which are vulnerable to man-animal conflict, Kumar said South West Garo Hills and West Garo Hills district administration is prepared for the situation and help from the Forest and Wildlife Department will also be sought.
Meanwhile, the ECI official asserted that even private sectors are bound to allow their employees to cast votes during the Assembly polls.