Imphal, January 17: Chief Electoral Officer RR Rashmi has stated that Central para-military forces to be deployed for the three phase elections for the Ninth State Legislative Assembly in February month would be arriving in phased-manner from January 21 onwards.

Though the CEO declined to specify precise strength of the security forces, he nevertheless confided that the number would be adequate in order to ensure smooth conduct of the polls.

"We are confident that the elections could be conducted in a peaceful manner", asserted Rashmi while briefing media-persons at DIPR office this evening.

He also reiterated election Commission of India's decision that armed para-military force personnel would be deployed in all the 2053 designated polling stations spread across the State.

It may be mentioned that Chief Election Commissioner Gopalaswami had stated recently that one section (minimum of ten personnel) of para-military force would be deployed in a polling station and the strength to be increased according to sensitivity of such stations.

The CEO said Returning Officers (ROs) have been instructed to ensure extensive digital camera and video coverage in the run-up as well as polling hours.

He maintained that first half-an-hour of the poll, that would begin from 7 am, would be covered and all at the intervals according to the situation.

The respective ROs have also been asked to strictly monitor the entire polling processes.

Informing that intensity/duration of video coverage of the poll events would be dependent upon history of the polling stations concerned, Rashmi also conveyed that the same task had been entrusted to the ROs.

Stating that some changes had been effected in filing of nomination papers, the CEO said his office endorsed intimation from some candidates from Senapati and Ukhrul districts to formalise their candidature for the elections at the office of Imphal West DC.

To receive the nomination papers, Senapati ADC and Kasom Khullen SDO have been designated as Assistant Returning Officers respectively for the two districts and are presently stationed at the Imphal West DC office, said Rashmi and added that decision for the same was taken into account political development.

Recalling that similar situation had cropped up in the past two occasions in the State, the CEO also announced that it is prerogative of the candidates concerned to file nomination papers in their respective district offices.

commenting on identification of electorates while exercising their franchise rights, the CEO said those who do not possess voter identity card issued by the election Commission his office had decided that certain documents to establish identity should be produced at the time of casting vote.

The documents include passports, driving license, income tax identity (PAN) cards, service ID documents issued by relevant authorities, public sector undertakings, local bodies, banks, Kisan/post office passbooks, ration cards issued prior to january 1, 2002, student ID cards etc.

For rural and remote areas the identity cards can also be issued by village authorities in the hill districts, CEO of district councils, zilla parishads, CEO/EO of nagar Panchayats, Municipal Councils and small town committees.

The decision to this effect is yet to be approved by the election Commission, he stated.