Itanagar: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has declared that Arunachal Pradesh will go to the polls for the 2024 Assembly Elections on April 19. The voting for the 60-member state assembly will be conducted in a single phase, with the counting of votes set for June 4, and results to be announced on the same day.
According to Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Pawan Kumar Sain, the notification for the election will be issued on March 20, while the last date for filing nominations is March 27. The scrutiny of nominations will take place on March 28, with March 30 being the last date for withdrawal of candidature.
As of January 5, 2024, the total number of electors in the state stands at 8,82,816, comprising 4,33,760 males and 4,49,050 females. Both the Photo Electoral Roll coverage and Electoral Photo Identity Card coverage are at 100%. The state will have 2,226 polling stations spread across its entirety.
Among these, Polling Station No. 2-Pumao Primary School under the 59-Longding (ST) Assembly Constituency holds the highest number of electors in the state, with 1462 voters. Conversely, the polling station with the least number of electors is the Malogam Temporary Structure in Malogam Village under the 45-Hayuliang (ST) Assembly Constituency, with only one female voter. Notably, Polling Station No. 18-Luguthang under the 3-Mukto (ST) Assembly Constituency stands as the highest polling station, located at an altitude of about 13,383 ft.
CEO Sain affirmed that all necessary arrangements for conducting the elections have been completed in the state. He stated, “The training for all district election officers, returning officers, assistant returning officers, and various categories of nodal officers has been completed by the office of the chief electoral officer. Training for all polling officers and other election-related officers in the entire state has already commenced under the supervision of the concerned district election officers (DEOs).”
Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) will be utilized in all polling stations, with extensive awareness programs about their usage conducted across districts. Additionally, the electronically transmitted postal ballots system (ETPBS) will facilitate hassle-free voting for service voters.
The first level checking of EVMs has been completed across the state, and for poll day monitoring, webcasting and Enabling Communications in Real-time Environment (ENCORE) will be utilized. Vehicles carrying reserve EVMs will be fitted with GPS in all cellular network-covered areas.
A toll-free helpline number, 1950, has been installed in CEO and DEO offices for queries related to elections. With the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) coming into force, the CEO has emphasized strict adherence to it by the government machinery. Additionally, the Prevention of Defacement of Public Property Act/Rules will be mandatorily imposed by all deputy commissioners.
The 60-member assembly in Arunachal Pradesh is currently under the governance of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with Pema Khandu serving as the chief minister. The BJP has announced candidates for all 60 seats, with CM Khandu himself contesting from the Mukto seat.
As the state gears up for the upcoming elections, all eyes are on the democratic process that will shape the political landscape of Arunachal Pradesh. Stay tuned for comprehensive coverage of the elections as the state heads towards polling day on April 19.
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