SHILLONG:
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India Rajiv Kumar said that the general law and order in the state is under control and peaceful at the moment.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) officials were in the state to brief on the poll preparedness for the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Election 2023, at Hotel Vivanta, Shillong, on January 13.
Replying to queries from media persons during a press conference, Rajiv Kumar said that the Commission took feedback from all the authorities concerned and has asked them to be vigilant.
The CEC informed that the political parties have been having regular meetings with the Chief Electoral Officer of the state.
“Further, they also emphasized peaceful elections, and also about inducement-free elections,” he said.
Kumar said that the paramilitary forces will be effectively utilized in an impartial manner and go to the areas being the border areas, the international borders.
He allayed any fears regarding law-and-order situation in the inter-state border areas of Meghalaya and Assam.
Replying to allegations that the NPP has not filed their election expenditure, he said that the rules provide for political parties to file their reports, finances, and the contribution reports in the prescribed time.
“There were varying levels of delays by political parties in various elections. They have now filed it and we have made the filing process far more robust,” he said.
Asked on Trinamool Congress’ poll promises launched in the state, Kumar said that political parties have a right to make promises to voters and it is the voters right to know what is being promised whether it is feasible or implementable or not.
“As of now, the announcements cannot be curbed directly, when the MCC (Model Code of Conduct) comes into play, we will look at all this, whatever is permissible within the existing law and the instructions of the Commission,” he said.