IMPHAL, JANUARY 3: Manipur Government has recommended to hold a three-phase polling in the forthcoming State Assembly elections from March 2, official sources said today.A decision in this regard was taken during Sunday's cabinet meeting after the Union Home Ministry and Election Commission asked the State Government to put its proposal, the sources said. The State Government had conveyed to the Centre to intimate the EC about its recommendation to hold the first phase of polls on March 2 in 39 Assembly constituencies, second phase on March 8 in ten constituencies and final phase on March 14 in 11 constituencies.The sources said the Cabinet discussed the prevailing law and order situation particularly in the light of the poll boycott call given by some Naga underground groups in hill districts.The State Cabinet also decided to request the Centre to send additional forces for smooth conduct of the coming elections in the trouble-torn state. The Cabinet also considered the present strength of thepolice and Paramilitary forces inadequate and decided to request the Centre to deploy more forces at the time of the elections, the sources said.All possible security measures would be taken to enable voters in hill districts exercise their franchise in the Assembly elections particularly in view of the boycott call given by ultras in hills.DGP Leirenjam Jugeswar Singh briefed Chief Minister W Nipamacha Singh about the law and order situation in all parts of the state after reviewing the situation with district superintendents of police and officials. The term of the present Assembly expires in the last week of March. The Election Commission had earlier announced that all poll procedure for the Manipur Assembly polls should be complete by March 21 next.
