NONGPOH, Jan 23: With the second round of Meghalaya-Assam border talks yet to commence and with Meghalaya Assembly elections fast approaching, arduous efforts are being made from both states to ensure that electors from areas of differences falling in Ri-Bhoi are not deprived from exercising their franchise.
Revealing this, Ri-Bhoi Deputy Commissioner Arpit Upadhyaya on Monday revealed that a meeting with the deputy commissioners and superintendents of police from four districts of Assam was recently held to confer about ways and means to ensure conduct of smooth elections in Meghalaya.
He also informed that the district administration, in collaboration with Assam, has set up certain polling stations and are taking extra cautious steps to ensure that no voters are left out.
“As of now, there has been no change in polling stations and voting patterns; that will remain the same and people can exercise their right to vote freely and fairly with no hindrance at all. It has been assured to us by the four district administrations of Assam that they will provide all their support and coordination in order to ensure that people can go and exercise their right to vote,” Upadhyaya said.
Meanwhile, the DC also informed that ever since the enforcement of Model Code of Conduct (MCC), all necessary steps are being taken by the district administration to ensure conduct of free and fair elections.
“The district administration of Ri-Bhoi has taken all the necessary steps to enforce the MCC. All the sector officers, all the zonal magistrates along with the Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers are all on the field for strict enforcement of the MCC,” he said.
The DC also informed that all Election Expenditure Management Teams are on the job to confiscate items that can have undue influence on the elections.
He said that while on January 18, Ri-Bhoi Police had seized heroin worth over Rs 1 crore, gold worth around Rs 30 lakh was seized on January 21.
The DC also informed that a meeting was held on Monday with all political parties during which the latter were imparted training on the provisions of the MCC as well as on Suvidha portal, which can be used to apply for various permits and rallies.
