HT Correspondent
WILLIAMNAGAR, Feb 21 : A two-member team of Senior Special Observers deputed by the Election Commission of India (ECI), Special General Observer, Yogendra Tripathi and Special Police Observer, Vivek Johri, arrived at Williamnagar, the district headquarters of East Garo Hills on 21 February and made a detailed review of the electoral preparations by the district machinery in the presence of General Observer, MK Abdul Haque, Expenditure Observer, T Ramalingam, District Election Officer, Jagdish Chelani, Superintendent of Police, Abraham T Sangma and other officials at Williamnagar Circuit House.
The Special General Observer, while reviewing the election preparedness in the district, informed that the most important thing during the election is for everyone to be alert at all times and said that no government servant can be politically involved in elections and strongly recommended stringent action so as to send a warning to other government servants.
While reviewing the number of polling stations which will be covered by webcasting, he advised the district election machinery that it would be a sensible thing to do as much webcasting as they can and not only in those polling stations which are considered vulnerable. He also stressed on the need to have solar-power back-ups in those polling stations where there is no electricity connection so as to avoid any glitch in polling process. He further urged the election officials in the district to motivate the voters in low voter-turnout polling stations.
The Special Police Observer, while reviewing law and order scenario and deployment of forces, advised the Superintendent of Police to take prompt and mutual response to any kind of situation or incident that may arise during the election.
Both the observers expressed their satisfaction with the poll preparations for the three assembly segments in the district, namely, 41-Songsak (ST) LAC, 42-Rongjeng (ST) LAC and 43-Williamnagar (ST) LAC.
Later during the day, the special observers visited the strong room, different cells set-up for election purposes in the DEO’s office and the vulnerable polling stations.
