State to go to polls on April 9 and 17
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 05 2014 : The Election Commission of India has officially announced that voting for the two Parliamentary seats in Manipur would be held in two phases in April.

As per Lok Sabha election schedule announced by the ECI today polling in the Outer manipur (ST) Parliamentary Constituency will be conducted on April 9 followed by the Inner MP constituency on April 17.Along with the announcement of the election schedule the model code of conduct has also come into effect from today.

Official notifications for the Parliamentary elections in the State will be issued on March 15 for the Outer seat and four days later for the Inner seat with candidates contesting in the Outer constituency supposed to file nomination papers within March 22 .

Last date for filing of nomination paper for the Inner seat will be March 26 .

State to go to polls on April 9 and 17

While scrutiny of nominations for the Outer seat will be on March 24 and March 27 set as the scrutiny date for the Inner seat withdrawal of candidature will respectively be March 26 and 29 for the two seats.

Counting of votes throughout the nation will be on May 16 and the entire election process for both the Outer and inner seats in the State supposed to be completed within May 28 .

Confirming the polling date announcement by the ECI, Chief Election Officer O Nabakishore told newspersons at his office chamber today that with the enforcement of model code of conduct Ministers will have to avoid blending official assignment and election-related campaigns.

In addition to release of MP and MLA funds after the official announcement of the election schedule amounting to violation of the Code, officials already assigned election duty cannot be transferred, said the CEO adding that fund release by Ministers and Government officials, service appointment notification as well as laying of foundation stones will be considered as violation of the model code of conduct.

Moreover, all development works for which work orders had been issued but have not yet begun will also be under the purview of the Code.

Informing that necessary measures have been initiated to ensure free and fair polling in the State with adequate deployment of central para-military force personnel, he announced that Thoubal district Deputy Commissioner will be the election Returning Officer for Outer MP Constituency and Imphal West DC the RO for Inner seat.

Conceding that use of voter verifiable paper trail also referred as VV set is likely to be very limited during the elections in Manipur, Nabakishore explained that with only 20,000 VV set ordered by the ECI to manufacturing unit for use in the entire country Manipur's share of the innovative system would obviously be nominal.

Confirming use of None of the Above (NOTA) button in the electronic voting machines for the Lok Sabha elections along with informing that five polling personnel would monitor the election process in each of the 2662 polling stations, the CEO said an election control room has become functional with immediate effect for which all concerned may contact telephone numbers 0385-2443711/2443712/2443713 or the CEO helpline on 1950 for election related informations.

Urging the electors to confirm inclusion or deletion of the their names from the official notification to be put on display on March 9 by the respective Block Level Officers in all the designated polling stations, he also informed that re-inclusion of voters deleted from the electoral roll would continue till the deadline of submitting nomination paper by the candidates.

Stating that number of electors enlisted in the electoral roll issued with January this year as the qualifying date has reached 17,39,005 in Manipur, the CEO said till date a total of 13,000 applications have been received for fresh enrolment.