Election commission(EC) after Bangloreans to vote

The apathy among voters, especially the young and urban ones, in exercising their franchise has forced the election commission to do something to address the issue.

A Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) campaign would be conducted in the state to exhort the people to participate in the poll process, particularly in Bangalore where the poll percentage in the 2008 election was low, chief electoral officer (CEO) of Karnataka Anil Kumar Jha said on Thursday.

Bangalore city had recorded about 47% polling in the 2008 assembly elections, triggering a debate about urbanites losing interest in discharging their duty in a democracy.

Jha told newspersons that effective measures would be taken to ensure free and fair polling on May 5. More than 500 companies of paramilitary forces —50,000 personnel in all— would be deployed for the polls in Karnataka, in addition to those drawn from the state police.

The election commission has convened a meeting with senior officials of the home and railway ministries in New Delhi on Friday to discuss the issue.

An EC team, led by chief election commissioner VS Sampath, which interacted with representatives of political parties and also deputy commissioners and superintendents of police in Bangalore earlier this month, would come to Bangalore again in a week’s time to review the election preparations.

The model code of conduct came into force Wednesday evening itself. The government would have to put on hold all announcements, and launch of new works and schemes.
Exceptions would be allowed only in emergency cases such as drought relief and drinking water supply.

No new work would be allowed to be launched, even if the tender process for the work had been completed, Jha said.

Meanwhile, the voters’ list is being revised continuously, and 1.65 lakh names have been added to the earlier total electorate of 4.18 crore, including 2.04 crore women. Jha admitted there are some errors in the voters database which are being corrected.

Those who want to include their names in the voters’ list can do so till April 7 to be eligible to vote in the forthcoming assembly elections.

@DNA