NEW DELHI: All arrangements for the February 27 general elections to legislative assemblies of eight Indian states and the union territory of Pondicherry have been reviewed and found to be satisfactory by the Election Commission. Notifications for the poll have been issued.
Deputy election commissioner Dr RP Bhalla told newsmen here that the commission had completed its two-day review of the electoral preparedness of the states.
The states which came up for review Wednesday were Manipur, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Arunachal pradesh, Orissa and Pondicherry. Gujarat, Maharastra, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh were reviewed Tuesday.
The meetings, presided over by chief election commissioner R VS Peri Shastry, were attended by chief secretaries, chief electoral officers and the directors general of police as well as a representative from the home (interior) ministry.
The issues which came up for consideration during the meetings were availability of election material, requirement of central forces for law and order duties, identification of sensitive constituencies and appointment of observers.
Dr. Bhalla said as far as central forces were concerned, the home ministry representative had assured the states that the center would accede to 99 per cent of their requirements.
Central forces would be deployed in the states four to five days in advance of the poll, Dr Bhalla said. However, in Arunachal Pradesh the forces would be sent two weeks in advance, he added.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 2, 1990
