SHILLONG:
Ahead of the 2023 Assembly election in the state, a full bench of the Election Commission of India (ECI) will arrive in Shillong on January 12 for a two-day visit to review the poll preparedness of Meghalaya.
The state’s chief electoral officer (CEO) FR Kharkongor made the announcement on January 10.
He told reporters that the ECI team will have a series of programmes which will include holding meetings with the political parties and review meetings with the CEO’s office and the state police nodal officer as soon as they land in Shillong on January 12.
The team will also have a very detailed review with the DCs and the SPs of the 12 districts and a detailed discussion with the enforcement agencies – income tax, BSF, customs, etc.
This will be followed by a review meeting with the state government which will be headed by the Chief Secretary and the DGP and other senior government officials, he said.
Kharkongor also informed that before the commencement of the formal programmes, the Commission would also launch some voters’ awareness programmes.
“On January 13 morning, they will also be distributing some EPIC cards to the super six categories that include senior citizens, people with disabilities, youth, women (and others) and they will be focusing on ethical voting, EVMs and VVPATs,” he said.
Asked, the CEO said if one goes by the past records, the ECI usually announced the election dates after making the assessment on the poll preparedness of the state.
“So whether they make the announcement immediately after their assessment in the state capital or after they go back to Delhi that of course I will not know but traditionally it is done after the assessment…,” he added.