GUWAHATI: The Election Commission of India (ECI) will set up 250 model polling stations, at least two in each of the 126 legislative Assembly constituencies in Assam during Assembly election next year as part of its sustained efforts to increase voters’ participation in the democratic process.
Talking to the media persons here Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Nasim Zaidi on Tuesday informed that the model polling stations would be equipped with all facilities like ramp for disabled voters, drinking water facility, proper wash rooms, electricity etc., and a festive atmosphere would be created in those 250 model polling stations to attract voters.
The full bench of the EC led by the CEC was on a two-day visit to the poll-bound Assam, to take stock of election preparedness.
The EC gathered views of all political parties and discussed matters related to conduct of election with all district magistrates and district police chiefs during its visit.
The CEC on Tuesday said the EC was mandated to complete the next Assembly election process in Assam by June 5, 2016 and final poll schedule would be announced after taking into account various relevant factors.
He, however, mentioned that most of the political parties wanted a multi-phased poll process to be completed before Rongali Bihu festival that falls in mid-April.
Zaidi said that about 1.92 crore voters would be eligible to participate in next year’s Assembly polls in Assam and out of those about four lakh would be new voters aged 18-19 years. He called upon the all the voters, especially new voters, to participate in the election process in a massive way.
He said electors photo identity cards (EPIC) would be issued against each and every voter this time. The final electoral roll will be published on January 11 next.
He said polling would be conducted in 25,000 polling stations and all the polling stations would be guarded by Central police forces personnel and asserted that the EC would put in place a robust mechanism to keep the voters free from all influences including money and muscle powers as most of the political parties in the state had aired apprehension that money and muscle powers would play a role in the polls this time. There is demand from all political parties to facilitate CCTV surveillance in all polling stations.
The CEC informed that the EC has directed the state administration to start executing pending non-bailable warrants, facilitate deposit of licensed arms and seizure of illegal weapons in the state in advance in the interests of facilitating free and fair polls.
