Imphal, February 11 2009: Leaders of all political parties today urged the Election Commission of India through the state Chief Electoral Officer to hold two phase polling in the Lok Sabha elections in Manipur.

In connection with the ensuing general elections, Chief electoral Officer of Manipur, Sambhu Singh convened a consultation meeting with representatives of all political parties functioning in the state at 3 pm at the main conference hall of Old Secretariat, South Block here.

Various issues concerning political parties in connection with the forthcoming Lok Sabha Elections 2009 were discussed.

Representatives of Manipur People's Party (MPP), Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP) and Bharatya Janata Party (BJP) attended the meeting.

CEO Sambhu Singh is reported to have informed the representatives of the political parties that the Lok Sabha elections which were earlier slated for May are now likely to be held within April 15.The budget session of the Parliament would possibly be held on February 26-27.After the Parliament session, the election notification would be issued, Sambhu Singh reportedly informed.

He also invited claims, objections and suggestions as regards the ensuing general elections from the political parties.

A common suggestion from the representatives of the political parties was to hold the polling in two phases in Manipur.

The poltical parties wanted the first phase of polling to be synchornised with the first phase polling of all India.

The representatives of various parties also asked the CEO to conduct the elections free and fair without any fear.

The political representatives also demanded that the state forces be not deployed at all the polling stations, sensitive and hyper sensitive areas be identified, officials on election duty be not politicised, after casting of votes the EVMs be packed with cloth and sealed, the EVMs be kept in a carefully guarded room, etc.

Another meeting with the Deputy Commissioners, Suprintendents of Police, Additional Deputy Commissioners of Jiribam and Kangpokpi, Sub-Divisional Officers was also held earlier at 11 am today at the same conference hall.

Issues discussed at the meeting included status of photo electoral rolls.

use of e-mail facilities for transmissionof messages/information, Polling station verification, classification of polling stations, EVM training, EVM publicity and awareness programme on use of EVMs, first level checking of EVCs, Committee for enforcement, setting up of state level and district level control room, publication of list of polling stations, districtr communication plan, counting centres, complaint monitoring system, observers and micro-observers, conferment of special executive magistrate powers, randomization software for appointment of polling personnel, requisition of vehicles, movement charts of polling personnel, district maps, etc.

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