Chief Election Commissioner Shri V.S. Sampath and Election Commissioners – Shri H. S. Brahma and Dr. Nasim Zaidi who had arrived yesterday in Aizawl to review the poll preparedness of Mizoram  for the upcoming Assembly elections on the 25^th November had a media briefing for the press at the Conference Hall of the New Secretariat Complex, this morning.

Addressing the press, Chief Election Commissioner Shri V. S. Sampath told newspersons that the Commission was satisfied with the level of preparedness with the election machinery in the state. However, he cautioned that the Commission would keep Mizoram under close watch and constant review. He mentioned that polling and counting dates had been changed by the Commission due to requests from the people so that it could facilitate larger exercise of franchise by the people of Mizoram. He appreciated the track record of Mizoram in ensuring free, fair and participatory elections in the past and said that such track record is the envy of the country. He hoped that the tradition will continue this time as well. He expressed happiness about the election machinery in the state achieving hundred percent in Photo Electoral Roll and in issue of EPIC to voters.

He told media persons that besides political parties, the Commission, for the first time met representatives of civil society groups and lauded the efforts put in by such groups in promoting ethical values in electoral process and in ensuring higher participation by citizens in the elections. Talking about the meeting the Commission had with representatives of political parties, he said that the political parties ensured him that they would fully cooperate with the election machinery in the conduct of free, fair and peaceful elections.

Addressing concerns that have come in from some sections about polling for Bru refugees in the refugee camps in Tripura, the CEC said that the Commission will ensure safe and sanitized conditions for polls to ensure that no malpractices are allowed in those polling stations. In this regard he said that CEO of Tripura and the election machinery there have been adequately briefed and also added that CEO, Mizoram has been asked to re-verify entries made during theSpecial Drivefor enrolment of Bru voters who turned eighteen during the last one year.

The CEC mentioned that for the first time in an Assembly election for a state, Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) would be used in 10 Assembly constituencies within Aizawl city. He also mentioned that a Workshop for candidates will be held to educate them on various aspects of expenditure monitoring control means of ECI. To ensure that candidates do not waste time in getting various permissions for meetings and rallies, he said, a single window clearance system for the purpose is being set up in the office of all Returning Officers which will ensure grant of permissions within 24 hours.

He invited the cooperation of the media and appealed to them to ensure that people come out in large numbers to vote so that a record turnout can be achieved. Shri V S Sampath also answered questions that media persons had regarding elections in the state.