By IANS
Agartala : Preparations for holding assembly elections in Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland are in full swing, with the Election Commission due to announce the poll schedule soon, it was announced here Thursday.
Election machineries of the three states in association with the Election Commission are making all arrangements to conduct the elections in a free and fair manner in February, Deputy Election Commissioner R. Balakrishnan said.
The five-year terms of the Tripura assembly will end March 19, while the tenures of the Meghalaya and Nagaland assemblies end March 10 and 13 respectively.
“Every challenge to conduct the elections in these three militancy affected states would be dealt with very firmly. Adequate number of paramilitary forces would be deployed in the states,” Balakrishnan told reporters.
The official is here to oversee poll preparations. He will meet senior officials and leaders of political parties.
He announced that election photo identity cards (EPIC) would be compulsory in the coming elections and also in the next general elections.
“Almost hundred percent of Tripura’s 2.03 million voters have got EPICs,” he said.