Decks cleared for over 9 lakh voters to exercise franchise
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 17 2019: All necessary preparation for the Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency election, which will be held at a total of 1300 Polling Stations tomorrow, have been completed and the polling personnel as well as the security personnel have also reached their respective Polling Stations.

On the other hand, it has been reported that 4 Polling Stations, namely 25/11 Oinam Government Primary School (E/W), 25/12 Oinam Government Primary School (W/W), 27/42 Kwakta Youth Association (Kwakta Bazar) and 29/7 Saiton Number 2 Government Primary School, were destroyed by the strong thunderstorm which lashed the State recently.

The RO for Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency, Naorem Praveen Singh, has appealed to all to ensure a smooth and successful election as well to ensure a 100 percent turnout for the poll which will decide the fate of 11 candidates namely Oinam Nabakishore (INC), Dr M Nara (CPI), Dr RK Ranjan (BJP), RK Anand (NEIDP), Oinam Jugindro (MPP), Dr G Tonsana Sharma (MDPF), Senjam Nandeshore (RJSP), Md Iliyash Khan (Independent), M Totomsana Nongshaba (Independent), RK Somendro alias Kaiku (Independent) and Wahengbam Pobitra Singh (Independent) .

Decks cleared for over 9 lakh voters to exercise franchise

A total of 9, 28,626 voters (4,47,843 males, 4,80,751 females and 32 third genders) will cast their votes during the poll which will begin from 7 am and last till 4 in the evening.

According to the RO, Governor Dr Najma Heptulla will also cast her vote tomorrow at 11/34 TG Higher Secondary School.

Out of the total 1300 Polling Stations, 127 Polling Stations will be manned completely by women polling personnel only.

26 Polling Stations in Imphal West, 55 Polling Stations (38 Polling Stations of Yaiskul) in Imphal East, 40 Polling Stations (all Polling Stations of Bishnupur AC) of Bishnupur district and 6 Polling Stations of Thoubal district will be manned by only women officials.

Aside from the State forces, a total of 45 Central Paramilitary forces companies will be tasked with the security arrangements during the poll tomorrow.

It may be mentioned that out of the 1300 total Polling Stations, 47 have been classified as vulnerable and 62 have been classified as critical.

A total of 559 Polling Stations (98 in Imphal West, 152 in Imphal East, 64 in Bishnupur and 45 in Thoubal) will be live web casted during the poll.

Speaking about the security arrangements and the enforcement of Model Code of Conduct, the RO explained that 94 Flying Squad teams, 94 Static Surveillance teams, 123 Sector Officers, 31 Accounting teams and 34 Assistant Expenditure Observers are working round the clock to ensure a free and fair poll.

35 check posts have been established as well, the RO added.

He continued that till date, Rs 18.10 lakh worth of liquor, opium and heroin have been seized by the authorities concerned.

On the other hand, the RO informed that 5423 persons with disabilities have been identified so far and out of the said number, 532 are blind, 779 are either deaf or mute, 2070 cannot walk or move while 1142 are suffering from other disabilities.

To ensure that the persons with disabilities are able to cast their votes, 5 wheelchairs and 5 vans each have been reserved at the Polling Stations where they will vote.

The Booth Level Officers have also been tasked with finding volunteers to help the persons with disabilities in the poll, the RO added.

Informing that Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency is formed by the 32 ACs in the valley region, the RO said that a Polling Station of every ACs has been labelled as Model Polling Station and in those Polling Stations, voters can avail proper seating arrangements, rest space for mothers, recreation spaces for the children, medical teams, drinking water facilities etc.

Drinking water facilities will be provided for every Polling Stations and a Voter Facilitation Centre will be established at each Polling Station as well.

For the blind voters, Braille voter slips, Braille dummy ballot papers have been prepared as well, he added.

The RO then appealed to all to follow the 'No one to be left out' policy of this year's vote and to ensure a successful election.