”The Meghalaya Chief Electoral Officer and his officers must be congratulated for achieving 100 per cent photo electoral rolls,” Mr Chawla said at a press conference here.
The EC, who will take over as the Chief Election Commissioner on April 21, has been on a two-day visit to Assam, where he reviewed poll preparedness in the state and Meghalaya and will leave for Arunachal Pradesh this evening.
Mr Chawla pointed that hilly terrain was a problem while conducting elections in Meghalaya and detailed discussions had taken place to ensure smooth polling.
Underlining the importance the Election Commission of India (ECI) was laying on communications network, he said, ”In Meghalaya, on an average there is 80 per cent mobile phone network coverage. For the remaining 20 per cent, special arrangements have to be made.” Mr Chawla said the ECI will try to get satellite phones for such very difficult areas. ”The ECI will try to get the satellite phones but can not promise on it as the ECI has no such phones of its own and will have to approach the Home ministry,” he added.
On video recording of poll proceedings and candidates’ campaign, he informed that the state had enough video cameras to fend on its own.
Meghalaya has two Lok Sabha seats, Shillong and Tura and will go to polls in the first phase on April 16.