Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, March 16 2009:
At least 21 helipads would be used in airlifting 133 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) during the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
The state election authority here has decided to start imparting training on use of EVMs and other statutory and non-statutory items to polling personnel from today.
Election Commission of India has announced a five phases polling schedule forthe 15th Lok sabha elections on March 2 last.
The poll in respect of Manipur state would be conducted in two phases on April 16 (for the no.2-Outer Manipur (ST) Parliamentary Constituency and on April 22 (for no.1-Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency).
With the announcement of the poll schedule, in the state, process for smooth conduct of the election has started with state CEO, Shambu Singh directing all DCs, SPs, ADCs and SDOs to co-ordinate with CEO office to ensure free and fair elections in the state.
Meanwhile, the first level of checking of the EVMs by six engineers from Bharat Electronic Limited (BEL) for Imphal west and east, Thoubal, Bishnupur, Chandel, Churachandpur, Tamenglong districts and Jiribam Headquarter have been completed and engineers are currently camping at Senapati district headquarter for further checking, the source said.
Source also said that election observers are likely to arrive any time before the scrutiny of nomination papers which is on March 31 for the Outer seat and on April 6 for the Inner seat for the state of Manipur.
The Election Commission will fix the observers on March 15 and 16. CCTVs and digital cameras would also be used for coverage of all critical events during the election process and polling at sensitive/hypersensitive polling stations on the poll day.