Manipur Election 2022: ECI Holds Virtual Meeting With Top Officials, Political Parties Ahead Of Assembly Polls

CEC Sushil Chandra chaired the meeting with the Chief Secretary, DGP and other officials of the state and political parties like TMC, BJP and Congress to assess the poll preparedness in poll-bound Manipur.

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday held a virtual meeting to assess poll preparations in the state of Manipur. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sushil Chandra chaired the meeting and top officials of the state including Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, State Police Nodal Officer, and CEO Manipur attended the meeting. 

Political parties which attended the meeting included  All India Trinamool Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Indian National Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, Naga People's Front (NPF), National People's Party, Peoples Democratic Alliance.

Manipur State Assembly’s term is due to expire on March 19, 2022. 

As per the official press release by the ECI, the main issues raised by political parties during the meeting were the use of money power, illicit liquor, narcotics and drugs, and intimidation to influence voters.

Deployment of adequate security forces to avoid any kind of pre-poll violence and implementation of Covid-19 protocols was also requested by the parties during the meeting. 

Elaborating on the concerns raised by political parties, CEC Sushil Chandra said that Expenditure Observers will be deployed for a strict vigil. He also elaborated on the ECI’s cVIGIL app for prompt redressal of violation of the Model Code of Conduct. 

The Commission also informed about measures like webcasting/videography, deployment of CAPF personnel, and Micro Observers wherever necessary.

For the first time in the state, an optional facility of postal ballots would be available for absentee voters which will include people with disability, senior citizens above 80 years of age, and Covid-19 suspect or infected people. 

To ensure Covid-19 protocols, the Commission emphasized that it was to conduct elections with 100 percent vaccination of the polling staff, proper sanitation, and social distancing. The maximum number of electors’ norm has also been reduced from 1,500 to 1,250.

The Commission discussed the administrative, logistics, budget, Law & Order, and election-related arrangements with the Chief Secretary and State Police Nodal Officer. The Commission reviewed the overall poll preparedness and law and order matters with the Chief Secretary & Director General of Police.