By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 12: Meghalaya Chief Electoral Officer B.D.R. Tiwari on Tuesday said the Election Commission (EC) is ready and waiting for the schedule to hold the by-election to the Shillong Parliamentary seat and the proposed Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Meghalaya.
The by-election has been necessitated by the demise of VPP MP Ricky A.J. Syngkon. He passed away on February 19 this year.
Tiwari said the bypoll has to be held within six months from Syngkon’s demise.
The NPP and the VPP have already announced the names of their candidates for the by-election. The Congress, the BJP and the UDP are yet to finalise their candidates.
Tiwari, meanwhile, said the state machinery is ready and awaiting the schedule from the EC to conduct the SIR in Meghalaya.
He also said that the voters’ list will be verified during the exercise. The last SIR was conducted in Meghalaya in December 2004.
According to Tiwari, anyone born before July 1, 1987 is an Indian citizen by birth. However, those born after 1987 will have to prove their lineage by showing that their parents or grandparents are voters of Meghalaya.
The poll body had earlier asked political parties to appoint booth level agents but did not receive a proactive response.
To a query, Tiwari said SIR will be carried out in the most transparent manner by following all guidelines. The EC will launch the third phase of the exercise in the coming days.
According to officials, Phase III will cover the remaining 22 states and Union Territories (UTs), including Meghalaya, and touch nearly 40 crore electors. The exercise in these states and UTs was delayed due to the recently concluded Assembly elections in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, and Puducherry.
The exercise holds importance for Meghalaya as it shares a long and porous border with Bangladesh. Tribal organisations and political parties have always raised concerns over illegal immigration, duplicate entries, and non-genuine voters.
