EC official reviews poll preparedness in Chhattisgarh

Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Umesh Sinha today took a stock of preparedness for upcoming Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh.

Sinha held meetings with state election officers and senior officials of the state government, police, CRPF and also with representatives of political parties here.

Elections are due in the state by year-end.

Preliminary preparations made by the District Electoral Officers and Superintendents of Police for the polls were by and large satisfactory, Sinha said, speaking at a press conference later in the evening.

Officials were asked to ensure that maximum number of eligible voters are registered, he said.

The Election Commission of India is putting emphasis on ensuring that all eligible citizens get their names included in the voter list, he said.

A special program will be carried out for those who were 18 years old as of January 1, 2018 and who are yet to register as voters. The drive will also cover women and persons with disabilities who are not in the voter list, he said.

Officials were asked to undertake confidence-building measures and awareness programmes in the Naxal-affected areas where very low voter turn-out was recorded in past elections, he said.

During the meetings, detailed discussions were held as to security arrangements in these areas during the polls, he said.

To a question how the distribution of liquor as an inducement to voters will be stopped when the Chhattisgarh government itself is selling liquor (through licensed outlets), Sinha said regulation of liquor sale during polls is implemented strictly, whether it's a sale through legal shops or illegal outlets.