Apart from EPIC, 18 alternative documents allowed for voting in Moirang by-election
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, December 23 2008:
HEAVY SECURITY arrangements have been made for state Chief Minister Okram Ibobi to visit Kwakta in Moirang assembly constituency in Bishnupur district tomorrow.
The Chief Minister will be taking part in the last day's campaign rally for the by-election of Moirang assembly constituency at Kwakta.
He would be addressing a mammoth capaign meeting for the Congress candidate M Prithviraj there.
The polling will held on December 27 .
Meanwhile, state Chief Electoral Officer today announced that apart from the Elector's Photo Identity Card (EPIC), 18 other documents will be allowed to identify the electors.
In another statement, the CEO also reiterated the Model Code of Conduct for the ensuing by-election asking all concerned public, candidates, political parties and other workers to follow strictly so as to ensure smooth conduct of the by-election.
According to a highly place source, state police department is making hectic arrangements for taking maximum security measures by deploying maximum security personnel under the supervision of the DIG range-III, M Shantikumar as overall security in-charge.
Under the supervision of the DIG range-III, commanding officers of the 7th MR, 1st, 2nd IRB and SP, Bishnupur district will look after the security for the to and fro journey of the Chief Minister from Imphal to the meeting place at Kwakta.
Apart from the police commandos from Imphal and Bishnupur units, armed personnel of the 7th MR, 1st and 2nd IRB will also be deployed at the meeting place as well as on the road.
Fifty personnel from the 6th IRB undergoing training at Manipur Police Training School, Pangei have been requisitioned for deployment at strategic points, according to the source.
Bullet proof Rakshak from Imphal East district police has been asked for requisition.
The security measures and deployment will start from early morning, the source added.
Extra bullet proof vehicles, ambulance have also been readied specially for the Chief Minister's visit at Kwakta, it added.
Central paramilitary forces will conduct ROP on the Tiddim road.
The Chief Minister is planning to attend the election meeting only at Kwakta village.
All political parties including the two contesting parties consider Kwakta as their vote bank.
Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee is planning to hold election rally at various places like Moirang, Leimaram and Joujangtek also.
O Ibobi and some cabinet ministers will attend the election rally at Kwakta.
MPCC president, Gaikhangam will attend all the meetings.
Mention may be made here that only the MPP sponsored candidate, Bira is vying for the Moirang assembly seat along with the Congress candidate, M Prithviraj.
The by-election has been necessitated as the seat had been left vacant by the death of its sitting MLA M Manindra.
Meanwhile, a statement of the CEO, Shambhu Singh today stated that 18 more documents which can establish the identity of the voter while casting vote can also be use in the bye-election which the polling is schedule on December 27 .
Earlier, following an instruction from the Election Commission of India, it was decided not to allow those who could not produce EPICS to cast vote in order to prevent impersonation of voters and facilitate identifications of voters.
However, in order to allow enjoying the franchise by those who could not obtain EPICS, the authority has decided to allow additional 18 documents using as alternative to the EPICS.
The alternatives documents which can produce by the voters are passport, driving licenses, income tax identity (PAN) cards, service identity cards issued to its employees by state or Central government, public sector undertakings, local bodies or public limited companies, pass books issued by public sector banks, post office and Kisan pass books (accounts opened on or before 31/10/2008 .
Students identity cards, property documents such as pattas, registered deeds, etc, ration cards, pension documents, railway identification cards, freedom fighter identity cards, armed license, certificates of physical handicap, identity certificates issued by chief executive officers of district councils, Zilla parishad, Nagar panchayat, Municipal councils and small town committee, identity cards issued by panchayat secretary and identification certificates issued by revenue authorities can also be used as alternative documents.
The another statement of the CEO also reiterated the Model Code of Conduct in force for the bye-election once again stating that it has been done with a view to ensure smooth conduct of the free and fair election and for strict compliance by the public, candidates, political parties and their workers.