Meghalaya and Assam today decided to extend full cooperation to each other and arrived at coordination strategies including maintaining law and order along the inter-state border to ensure peaceful, free and fair Lok Sabha elections in the two neighbouring states.
The decision was taken at a joint meeting of election officials from both states held here. Elections in the two constituencies in Meghalaya would be held on April 9, while the first phase of polling in Assam would begin on April 7.
The two states share an inter-state border of about 800 kms. "This meeting was called to sort out all issues related to conducting peaceful, free and fair elections in both states," Meghalaya Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Prashant Naik told reporters after the meeting. Stating that one of the major issues was maintenance of law and order, besides movement of polling parties and also requirement of logistics, Naik said, "We have requested Assam to help with vehicles because we are running short of them, specially in the Garo Hills sector."
"All coordinating and action points have been discussed regarding law and order," Naik said, refusing to disclose the details. Admitting there were some issues regarding movement of militant groups along the border, he said, "Of course yes, we have certain militant groups operating in certain parts of the state and we need to check their activities, we need to ensure peaceful elections."
The decision was taken at a joint meeting of election officials from both states held here. Elections in the two constituencies in Meghalaya would be held on April 9, while the first phase of polling in Assam would begin on April 7.
The two states share an inter-state border of about 800 kms. "This meeting was called to sort out all issues related to conducting peaceful, free and fair elections in both states," Meghalaya Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Prashant Naik told reporters after the meeting. Stating that one of the major issues was maintenance of law and order, besides movement of polling parties and also requirement of logistics, Naik said, "We have requested Assam to help with vehicles because we are running short of them, specially in the Garo Hills sector."
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With Assam also going for polls, he said that state also required some coordination to manage the dry days and movement of polling parties and maintaining law and order. "All these have been discussed and we decided to extend full cooperation to each other," the CEO said. Assam Additional Chief Election Officer R C Jain said the meeting was regarding maintenance of law and order during elections in both the states. "We are depending on each other," he said, informing that polling material of 101 polling stations of Meghalaya would be passing through Assam and they were looking at providing logistics and other requirements. Meanwhile, the two states have agreed to beef up security to check movement of militant groups along the inter-state border.
"All coordinating and action points have been discussed regarding law and order," Naik said, refusing to disclose the details. Admitting there were some issues regarding movement of militant groups along the border, he said, "Of course yes, we have certain militant groups operating in certain parts of the state and we need to check their activities, we need to ensure peaceful elections."