Imphal, January 20: The Election Commission of India has instructed the State Election office to use Electronic Voting Machines in the forthcoming Lok Sabha election, which is likely to be held some time in April.

On the other hand the State unit of the NCP has asserted that it will go along with the real NCP even as a split stares the party in the face following the irreconcilable differences between Sharad Pawar and PA Sangma over striking a poll pact with the Congress and the NDA.

Speaking to The Sangai Express at his office chamber today, Chief Electoral Officer of Manipur, VK Thakral said that his office has received strict instructions from the ECI to use EVMs in the forthcoming Lok Sabha election.

The ECI has also asked the State Election Department to procure the EVMs from West Bengal and Sikkim.

VK Thakral informed that the required number of EVMs for Manipur is 3000 and added that at the moment the State Government has only 750 EVMs at its disposal.

The rest will be procured from West Bengal and Sikkim, he added.

Polling officers will soon be imparted training on the use of the voting machines, said the officer further.

As per the instructions of the ECI, process to issue photo identity cards to voters of Imphal East and West will soon be started and added that discussions with respective DCs have already been initiated towards this end.

Meanwhile when The Sangai Express contacted the State NCP unit chief S Tiken on what steps his party will take following the sharp differences between Pawar and Sangma, Tiken said that the State unit will not align with either Sangma or Pawar but will stick to the real NCP.

Comment