Mon, December 12 (MExN): Deputy Commissioner & District Election Officer of Mon, Thavaseelan K has informed various political parties of the district to attend the First Level Checking (FLC) of EVMs and VVPATs scheduled to be held from December 21 to 23 at Executive Hall, DC office complex, Mon. The checking will begin at 9:00 am on each of the three days. Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPATs) will be used in the forthcoming Nagaland Legislative Assembly elections.
In a letter to the presidents of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Indian National Congress (INC), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Naga People’s Front (NPF), the DC further informed that entry in the FLC hall will be permitted only after verification of the identity of the party representatives for which ID cards will be issued earlier in the day itself (December 21). Thus, the political parties have been asked to direct their representatives to be present at least by 8:45 am on December 21.
The FLC hall, as directed by the Election Commission of India (ECI), has to stay electronically sanitized at all times, it stated. Therefore, no cell phones/ cameras and other electronic devices will be allowed in the hall. The representatives have been requested to co-operate with the staff and the police personnel present, who will be duty bound for the success of the FLC. The entry will be guarded by Police and record of all visitors will be maintained, the letter added.
Meanwhile, the DC informed that the administration will shortly organize training on the use of EVMs/VVPATs as well as the FLC process for the political parties. It was informed that FLC is a critical exercise in the electoral process. According to the letter, it provides an opportunity to the political parties and the administration to come together to witness the sanctity of EVMs and VVPATs. Moreover, it provides the political establishment a chance to witness first hand the sincere efforts of the administration/election machinery to keep the elections free and fair, it said.
Therefore, the presidents of the political parties have been encouraged to be available themselves or depute a representative to be present at all times during the FLC process.
.JPG)
