The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Manipur Shri Rajesh Agrawal today convened a meeting with recognized National & State political parties at the Conference Hall of Chief Electoral Officer, Manipur, Lamphelpat. CEO informed that meetings with political parties will be held weekly on a regular basis.

The CEO briefed on Model Code of Conduct, COVID Norms, Criminal Antecedents, Election Expenditure, EVMs & VVPATs, Identity Proof for voting, amongst others. With the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct, defacement of government, public properties, and unauthorized defacement in private property complied within specified timelines. Altogether 53,252 defacements were removed so far, Agrawal added. Photographs of political functionaries were also removed from government websites.

Political parties were also informed that no roadshow, Pad-yatra, cycle/bike/vehicle rally and procession, a physical rally of Political parties or probable candidates, or any other group related to election shall be allowed till 15th January 2022. Rallies and meetings shall be allowed only in earmarked places and with prior permissions of district administration. Stating that Election Agents/ Polling Agents/ Counting Agents without double dose vaccination shall not be allowed on duty, Rajesh Agrawal appealed to all political parties to check on the vaccination status of their respective Polling Agents. He also informed that necessary arrangements would be made by the office of the CEO, Manipur for COVID Vaccination.

Rajesh Agrawal continued that as per Supreme Court Order, political parties/candidates should publish criminal antecedents in newspapers/TV on three occasions. Booklet on Criminal Antecedents was also provided to the representatives of political parties. For publishing criminal antecedents, a list of newspapers and TV channels will be notified soon, he added.

CEO also urged the Candidates to appoint Election Expenditure Agents to ensure timely filing of expenditure statements/accounts. Regarding P-2 & P-3 polling stations, he also informed that intermediate strong rooms had been identified and would be notified to all candidates and political parties by DEOs.

Representatives of Political Parties also expressed their views, suggestions, and grievances during the meeting.

Joint CEO, Manipur, Ramananda Nongmeikapam, Joint CEO (II), Manipur, Md. S. Daulat Khan and State Nodal Officer, Media and W. Phajatombi Devi were also present during the meeting.

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