Imphal, December 20: The Election Commission of India has hinted that the date for the 9th Assembly election scheduled to be held sometime in February next year may be announced on December 24 or after Christmas while the election notification is likely to be issued in the first week of January.

Speaking to The Sangai Express a reliable source said that apart from hinting that the election date may be announced on December 24 or after Christmas, preparations are being made to instal video camera at hyper sensitive polling stations.

The election Code of Conduct will come into force from the day the date of the election is announced, said the source and added that while the State Government is in favour of holding the election in three phases, the Union Home Ministry has still not committed anything to the strength of security deployment for the election.

The phases of the election will be decided on the availability of security personnel.

With apprehension doing the round that the coming election may be marred by unprecedented violence, steps are being taken up to instal video cameras at hyper sensitive polling stations.

As per the instructions of the Election Commission of India, the State Election Department has already despatched information relating to the holiday list of the State Government in 2007, the time and other details of school examinations etc.

The final list of the electoral roll for the upcoming election will be published on January 3, said the source and added that at the moment, the summary revision of the election roll is underway.

Already 3500 electronic voting machines have arrived in the State from Assam, said the source adding that the total number of polling stations for the upcoming election is 2053. The IG (LO-I) S Dinokumar has already been appointed as the nodal officer of the election said the source.

The State Government has also asked the Union Home Ministry to detail 1000 companies of Central security personnel for poll duty at the hyper sensitive polling stations across the State.

However nothing final has been worked out in connection with the deployment of security personnel.

On the other hand, the Naga People's Organisation had set December 17 as the deadline to the State Government to follow the 2001 Census report.

As the deadline has crossed, the NPO held a meeting yesterday and it was tentatively agreed that no agitation would be launched keeping in mind the Christmas and New Year festivals.

NPO president Dili Mao however made it clear that though no agitation would be launched during the time of Christmas and New Year, any agitation launched after the two festivals may more severe any bandh or economic blockade.