Indian Air Force helicopters requisitioned for Manipur polls

Our Correspondent
Imphal, Feb. 10 (EMN): Two Indian Air force (IAF) helicopters have been requisitioned for airlifting poll officials and materials to 83 polling stations for the assembly elections in Manipur to be held on February 28 and March 5.

Disclosing this at press briefing on Thursday, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manipur, Dr. Rajesh Agrawal said that it will enable emergency lifting of poll officials. He added that they have requested the state government to keep an air-ambulance on standby for emergency evacuations.

The CEO also informed that 17,949 license arms (80%) out of the total 22,957 have been deposited since the day of announcement of election, while the directorate of Revenue Intelligence has seized 15826.58 gram of gold worth INR 7.71 crore.

Stating that the Election Commission was satisfied with the overall preparedness for polls in the state, he said a total of 529 polling stations, which is around 18 per cent of the total polling stations, will be managed by all-women officials. The total number of polling stations is 2968.

The initiative was taken up to reach out to centenarian voters, transgender voters and also to improve the voter turnout in the 300 low voter turnout polling booths of the state, he added.

A total of 176 candidates, including 15 women had filed nomination papers for the first phase of polls and 175 have been found valid.

So far, nomination papers of 38 candidates have been received for the second phase, wherein 22 constituencies under six electoral districts will go to the polls.

The counting of votes will be done on March 10 along with four other poll-bound states.