Imphal, October 18: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) N Gopalaswami has wrapped up his two State visit with commitments on appropriate security arrangements and video tapping of the forthcoming state Legislative Assembly elections.

Interacting with news-persons before leaving Imphal today, the CEC said apart from extensive digital video coverage, adequate security forces would be deployed for the State polls slated to be held in the early part of next year.

Entire election related processes like campaigns, polling periods and counting of votes would be video-tapped, N Gopalaswami iterated when the mediapersons engaged the ECI chief on various aspects of the poll.

The video coverage would be made so that the model code of conduct of the election is properly adhered to and "we can also check whether the candidates are going beyond the conduct".

The whole task of covering all these events would be handed over to private agencies, he said.

Regarding deployment of paramilitary forces, he said "we will be using our own intelligence and we will assess requirement of security strength based on their inputs after holding a discussion with the Ministry of Human Affairs".

the CEC was accompanied by deputy EC JP Prakash.

"We understand various complications in conducting the election in Manipur and we will be planning to put all needs in order to ensure the polls pass off smoothly keeping in mind all the inputs provided to us", he said adding that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) would also be utilized during the elections.

When queried further on the threat perception to the poll process and candidates from a particular hill based insurgent outfit, Gopalaswami asserted that the CEC had gathered all information on the matter and the same would be discussed in-depth.

On being asked about the ECI's announcement of the exact dates of the polls he said, "you will be the first to come to know on it".

Regarding use of voters' identity cards the CEC said it is not mandatory but those who have already obtained them can use them.

yesterday, the CEC held a meeting with all political parties and discussed issues related to questions in how many phases the polls should be conducted.

Representatives of the political entities had demanded that polling process be extended upto five phases with some limiting maximum phase to four and others suggesting two phases.

Responding to a query on lack of security in the interior areas during polls he quipped, "In fact we want the media to be the observers so that you can provide proper feedbacks".

Gopalaswami also held a meeting with all DCs and SPs and held discussions on the on manpower and security requirement for the polls today.

A separate meeting was also held with the state chief secretary, DGP and home secretary on the same issue, the CEC informed adding that they gave different opinions in respect of demands of para military forces for the polls.

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