LS polls in State to be held on April 9 & 17
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, March 05 2014 : As per the poll dates announced by Election Commission of India (ECI) today, the ensuing 16th Lok Sabha election would be held in two phases in the State for Outer Manipur and Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituencies on April 9 and April 17 next month respectively.

Talking to media persons in this regard at his office chamber here today, State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) O Nabakishore said that the election model code of conduct has been put into immediate effect in the State with the announcement of poll dates for the coming Lok Sabha election by Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath in New Delhi today.

The Ministers of State Government should not mix up their official tasks with the poll campaigns.

Adequate number of paramilitary personnel would be deployed to ensure free and fair election in the State.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has been requested to send the requisite troops to the State, he noted.

CEO Nabakishore further said that 2662 polling stations would be opened up in both Inner and Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituencies for the coming Lok Sabha polls.

The Returning Officer (RO) of Inner Manipur would be Deputy Commissioner of Imphal West K Radhakumar while Deputy Commissioner of Thoubal T Ranjit would be the RO of Outer Manipur.

A helpline number "1950" has also been opened to the public for any poll related query, he added.

He also announced that a mega electoral camp would be organized on March 9 at every polling station for new enrolment, rectification and deletion of voters.

Nabakishore further maintained that use of Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) in the coming Lok Sabha election is still uncertain as the ECI has ordered only 20,000 units of VVPAT for the whole country.

The exact number of sensitive, hypersensitive and normal polling stations in the State is yet to be ascertained.

The security arrangement would be made according to the updated figure of polling stations.

Moreover, an MFS (Manipur Finance Service) officer has been deputed for election expenditure monitoring.

Each polling station would have not less than 5 polling personnel, State CEO stated.

Further, Nabakishore said that the ruling parties would not be allowed to use Government vehicles and machineries in election campaigns as per the model code of conduct.

There would be ban on making advertisements of Government's achievements, transfer and posting of Government employees and utilization of local area development funds of MPs and MLAs, he noted.

Nabakishore also disclosed that any discrepancies, information or complaints regarding matters related to the ensuing elections can be reported to the Electoral Office through official phone numbers, 0385-2443711, 2447312 and 2447313 or through the office fax number 0385-24552979 .

Meanwhile, according to the ECI, the election notification for Outer Manipur would be issued on March 15 and the last date for filing nominations would be on March 22.The scrutiny of nominations would be held on March 24 and last date for withdrawal of candidature on March 26.The election would be held on April 9 and the votes would be counted on May 16 .

As for the Inner Manipur, the election notification would be issued on March 19 and the last date for filing nominations would be on March 26.The scrutiny of nominations would be held on March 27 and last date for withdrawal of candidature on March 29.The election would be held on April 17 and the votes would be counted on May 16 .

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