 |
EC to insist on voter lD-card
|
 |
The Election Commissioner,
B.B.Tandon, holding a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday.
The State Chief Electoral Officer, P.J. Thomas, is beside him.
|
The Election Commissioner, B.B.Tandon, has said that since voter ID cards have been issued to almost all the voters in Kerala, the Election Commission would insist on Voter ID cards being used as the primary document for identification of voters for the May 10 Lok Sabha poll.
|
Mr. Tandon told a news conference here today that voter identification cards had been issued to all but around 4,000 voters in five Assembly segments and, as such, there was a justification for the ID cards being used as the primary document for identification of the voters. Efforts were on to cover the 4,000 remaining voters as well, but given the experience so far, they should be assumed as having left the State to take up employment abroad, he said.
|
The Election Commissioner said other documents such as the Passport, Driving Licence, Bank Passbook, etc. would be accepted as identification documents if the voter concerned could give a convincing reason for not producing the ID card.
|
| Mr. Tandon reviewed the preparations and arrangements made for the Lok Sabha election at a series of meetings with the Chief Secretary, District Collectors and top Police officers here this morning. He said he had asked the Chief Secretary to send a report about complaints regarding misuse of official machinery. He also asked the Chief Electoral Officer to send a report on complaints regarding violation of the mod el code of conduct by candidates and political parties. The CEO had already sent some reports on specific complaints. He would have a look at them as soon as he returned to Delhi, the Election Commissioner said.
|
Mr. Tandon said that his own review of the poll preparations had left him satisfied with the arrangements. The final supplementary list of voters would be published on April 23. Replying to questions, the Election Commissioner said some polling booths and certain areas of the State had been identified as sensitive and steps were being taken to ensure that polling took place smoothly in these areas and booths. |
