The Hindu : Assembly polls in four States on Feb. 26

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 12, 2003

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Assembly polls in four States on Feb. 26

By J. Venkatesan

NEW DELHI JAN. 11. The Election Commission today announced that Assembly elections to the four States of Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura would be held on February 26.

The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), J.M. Lyngdoh, flanked by two other Election Commissioners, T.S. Krishnamurthy and B.B. Tandon, told presspersons that simultaneously, byelections would also be conducted in seven Assembly constituencies spread over six States — two in Uttar Pradesh (Gauriganj and Haidergarh) and one each Jammu and Kashmir (Pampore), Tamil Nadu (Sattankulam), Jharkhand (Poriyahat), Karnataka (Humnabad), Maharashtra (Bhokarden).

The CEC said polling would be held in June for the three snow-bound Assembly constituencies of Himachal Pradesh — Lahaul Spiti, Kinnaur and Pangi Bharmaur. All the remaining 65 seats in Himachal Pradesh and 60 each in three northeastern States would go to the polls on February 26.

Mr. Lyngdoh said the notification would be issued on January 31; last date for nominations, February 7; scrutiny on February 8; withdrawal, February 10 and counting of votes on March 1 and the new Assemblies would be in place by March 7.

He said the term of the present Assembly in Himachal Pradesh was due to expire on March 11; Meghalaya on March 8 and Nagaland and Tripura on March 22.

The Code of Conduct in these States and constituencies where byelections were to be held would come into force with immediate effect. It would be applicable to all the political parties and to the State and Union governments. The CEC said electronic voting machines (EVMs) would be used in all the Assembly constituencies in the four States and in the byelections and a massive training and awareness programme had been launched.

He said the Commission had asked the Union Home Ministry for adequate security forces to ensure a free and fair poll. The Commission had detailed discussions with the Union Home Secretary and the Chief Secretary, the Director-General of Police and senior officials of these States besides making its own assessment before finalising the poll schedule.

Mr. Lyngdoh said the Commission members would go to Nagaland and Meghalaya next week. He was optimistic that elections would be conducted peacefully in Nagaland in view of an assurance given by the National Social Council of Nagaland (I-M) leaders that they would not interfere with the poll process.

Compulsory voter identification

The CEC said that compulsory identification of voters would be made for these elections. However, as the process of issuing photo identity cards to voters was not yet completed, other documents would be used for identification so that voters, whose names were found in the electoral rolls, were not deprived of their right to franchise.

Asked about the possibility of illegal migrants figuring in electoral rolls in Tripura, he said the names of 1.54 lakh Bangladeshi migrants, whose names figured in the rolls were ordered to be deleted in 1995. However, some names which were included subsequently would also be removed this time.

He said in Nagaland electoral rolls were found to be in order, by and large. But the Commission had asked for fresh enumeration in four constituencies in Dimapur district and it would be published by the month-end. Asked whether the Commission would issue a direction to disarm the special police officers, several of whom were CPI(M) activists, Mr. Lyngdoh said though there was no such intention now. "It is a relevant point. We will consider it when we go there".

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