Administrative, political activities begin in poll-bound Mizoram

After Friday's announcement of the Mizoram assembly election schedule by the Election Commission of India (ECI), administrative and political activities have begun in the hilly state.

"We are taking measures to conduct free and fair polls. All returning and district electoral officers are being activated," Mizoram's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ashwini Kumar told reporters Saturday.

"Training of state and district-level officials, checking of electronic voting machines, holding all-party meetings and appraising political parties about ECI guidelines is being done," Kumar said.

The official said static surveillance teams, flying squads, expenditure and accounting monitoring cells, and video surveillance teams would be pressed into service before and during the elections.

The CEO said Mizoram's international border with Myanmar (404 km) and Bangladesh (318 km) would be sealed prior to the Dec 4 polls.

He said the state election authority has requested both ECI and the union home ministry for additional 31 companies of central para-military forces.

Mizoram has eight battalions of state armed police who would also be deployed before and during the polls.

According to Kumar, the Election Commission, led by Chief Election Commissioner V.S. Sampath, is expected to visit Mizoram next week to oversee poll preparedness in the state.

All the political parties, including ruling Congress and main opposition Mizo National Front, have started selecting their candidates.