Meghalaya governor Ganga Prasad on Friday urged the people of the state, particularly the youth who are eligible voters, to exercise their rights of franchise freely and maintain the best traditions of peace and harmony in the run up and during conduct of Assembly polls.
Meghalaya will vote on February 27, to elect new members of the tenth Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.
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Addressing the people of the state on the occasion of 69th Republic Day here on Friday, Prasad said the state election department has undertaken comprehensive activities pertaining to conduct of elections, registration of voters, preparation of electoral rolls and the other related programmes as mandated, under the direct supervision of the Election Commission of India.
“There has been an upswing in the number of voters registered due to intensive campaigns being undertaken through various innovative exercises. Eligible voters are encouraged to enroll themselves in the electoral rolls and to whole heartedly participate in the elections by casting their votes,” the governor said.
Meghalaya has registered a total of 18.31 voters for the upcoming Assembly polls, and 3,082 polling stations spread across the 60 Assembly constituencies.
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“It is a matter of pride to find ourselves belonging to a country that has matured as the largest democracy in the world and is now being counted as an emerging economic powerhouse. Equally, with all humility, we must acknowledge that the dream of Mahatma Gandhi to wipe every tear from every eye still remains distant. Let us, therefore, resolve today to do all we can, to contribute towards building a just, harmonious and equitable society in our country,” the governor said.
On law and order front, the governor said that internal security situation has significantly improved in the state and lauded the state police and central forces for their commendable job despite facing constraints of difficult terrain and poor communication infrastructure.
According to the governor, efforts put in by security forces have led to a large number of arrests and surrender of militants and other criminal gangs as well as recovery of huge cache of arms and ammunition.
He also said that the state government’s approach to facilitate surrendered cadres of different militant organizations to take advantage of the government rehabilitation package and assimilate in the national mainstream by involving the Church and community leaders with the aid of the district administration and police have yielded positive results.
Prasad said that the situation along the Indo-Bangla border remained peaceful due to improved relations with the neighboring country, adding that the state was committed to complete the remaining unfenced international border at a fast pace to effectively contain influx of Bangladeshi nationals, trans-border movement and activities of militants and anti-social elements.
To check influx, Prasad said, the state government is also in the process of implementing a new initiative of creating facilitation centers at various entry and exit points on the interstate border with Assam to check entry of illegal migrants and other suspicious persons into Meghalaya.