Shillong, Feb 13: Elections to the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) will cost the state exchequer Rs 9.06 crore even as the authority has identified over 210 hyper sensitive polling stations in Khasi and Jaintia hills districts.
Giving a break-up of the hyper sensitive polling stations, political department commissioner & secretary Jopthiaw Lyngdoh informed reporters that of the 210, 145 hyper sensitive polling stations is under KHADC and 65 in JHADC jurisdictions.
Lyngdoh also said that the second category of sensitive polling stations under KHADC is around 212 and 143 in under JHADC. He said classification of hyper-sensitive and sensitive are based on the past records with regards to the number of murder cases and injuries incidents that had taken place.
Lyngdoh said, “Besides, the traditional availability of liquor, over-riding powers of the candidates, heat generated by political parties and tendencies of the people to get into oral arguments are also taken into account.”
Lyngdoh, however, said that the figures of hyper sensitive and sensitive polling stations are as of today but the classification may change depending on the reaction of people from one place to another in the run up to the ADC elections. He said, “ It is likely to fluctuate according to situation.”
Giving a break-up of the polling stations district-wise under KHADC, Lyngdoh informed that of the total 550 polling stations (PSs) in East Khasi hills district, 68 are hyper-sensitive, 99 are sensitive and 383 are normal, West Khasi hills district with 208 PS, 7 are hyper-sensitive, 29 – sensitive and 172 – normal, in South West Khasi hills with 87 PS, 15 – hyper, 24 – sensitive and 48 normal, Ri Bhoi district with 209 PS, 36 – hyper, 34 – sensitive and 139 are normal, Sohra sub-division with 64 PS, 19 – hyper, 9 sensitive and 36 – normal and Mairang sub-division with 85 PS, 17 – sensitive and 68 are normal with no hyper-sensitive polling stations.
Under the JHADC, of the 240 polling stations in West Jaintia hills district, 25 are hyper-sensitive, 111 are sensitive and 114 are normal and East Jaintia hills district with 104 PS, 40 are hyper-sensitive, 32 – sensitive and 32 are normal polling stations.
Lyngdoh said that a total 1925 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be distributed in the six districts.
Lyngdoh further informed that the election department has also appointed over 158 executive magistrates in the different districts of KHADC and JHADC. He said, “Over 145 officers have been conferred with magisterial powers and appointed as executive magistrates for the elections to the KHADC, 13 have been appointed for JHADC.”
Lyngdoh revealed that 29 returning officers and 25 assistant returning officers have also been appointed for the elections to the KHADC and 9 Returning Officers (RO) and 9 asst ROs for JHADC.
These officials have been given the responsibilities of maintaining the law and order situation, violations against the model code of conduct during the election process.
According to Lyngdoh the acting chief secretary PBO Warjri and the Director General of Police (DGP) PJP Hanaman will be visiting the six district headquarters to review polls preparedness in the upcoming ADCs elections on February 27.
On security issue, Lyngdoh said, “Requirement of forces has been assessed for proper management of the elections.” Stating that the state can manage the elections with the available force, he informed that forces from the home guards and the new recruits of reserve constables will be deployed for the purpose of manning the polling booths.- By Our Reporter
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