AIZAWL, Oct 25: At least 3,000 police personnel and 450
sections of central armed police forces (CAPFs) will be deployed
for the November 7 Mizoram assembly polls, a senior election
official said on Wednesday.
Mizoram chief electoral officer (CEO) Madhup Vyas said the poll
panel is making massive efforts to ensure a smooth, free, fair
and peaceful election.
“Ten companies of Border Security Force BSF) personnel and
five companies each of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and
Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) have already reached Mizoram and
are in their places of deployment,” Vyas told reporters here.
A section comprises 12 personnel. So, 450 sections will amount
to 5,400 personnel of CAPFs.
Vyas said arrangements have also been made to keep a
helicopter on standby in Aizawl on the polling day.
According to the official, cash, drugs, liquor and other
contraband items worth Rs 36.32 crore were seized so far since
the election was announced.
Elections to the 40-member Mizoram Assembly will be held in a
single phase on November 7 and the counting of votes will take
place on December 3.
Vyas said the CEO office had received several representations
from political parties and organisations seeking a change in the
counting date as it fell on a Sunday, which is holy for Christians,
and the letters were forwarded to the Election Commission.
The central poll panel has not replied to the pleas till now, he
said.
More than 8.57 lakh voters, including 4,39,026 female electors,
are eligible to exercise their franchise in the forthcoming
assembly polls.
Of the 1,276 polling stations, around 30 have been identified as
critical, Vyas said.
Altogether 174 people, including 18 women, are in the fray for
the polls. Two men and women each are contesting from two
seats.
The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), the main opposition
party Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) and the Congress have
fielded candidates in all 40 seats.
The BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have nominated
candidates for 23 and four seats respectively. Besides, 27
candidates are contesting as independents.
Four constituencies — Aizawl North-III, Aizawl South-I, Serchhip
and Lunglei West — have the maximum number of candidates
and will witness a six-cornered contest; while Tawi, Champhai
South, East Tuipui and South Tuipui constituencies have the
least number of candidates and will see a three-cornered fight.
(PTI)
