3.2 lakh seek inclusion of name in voters' list

The Election Commission has on a single day received as many as 3.2 lakh applications from citizens across the State for inclusion of their names in the voters’ list.

On March 9, the Commission had held citizens’ camps for inclusion/correction of names in the voters’ list in all the polling stations in the State. On Wednesday, the Commission officials said as many as 3.2 lakh new applications had been received following the conduct of the camps.

It is said the Commission would take 10 days for the scrutiny of the applications and start distributing new EPIC cards after that.

The officials said the maximum number of applications had been received from Bangalore North, South, Central and Rural constituencies. The four constituencies have generated 1.4 lakh fresh applications. People can enrol in the voters’ list till March 16.

BBMP officials said that close to 80,000 applications had been received from within the Palike jurisdiction.

Sources said the civic agency was contemplating organising camps for disbursal of voter IDs soon.

The move is to ensure that citizens get to make ‘on the spot’ corrections in the voters’ list. Bangalore North, South and Central constituencies have around 47 lakh voters.

Palike officials said that at present the civic agency was conducting a survey of the polling stations within Bangalore  city to provide basic amenities. With several polling stations lacking proper toilet facilities and lighting problems, the BBMP plans to make temporary arrangements. There are around 7,700 polling stations in the City limits.

Complaints

Chief Electoral Officer Anil Kumar Jha said the State Election Commission had sent a suggestion to put off the date of elections in the State, as proposed by the BJP, to the Central Election Commission for its consideration.

On a complaint by the JD(S) about the Tahsildar of Channapatna allegedly favouring D K Suresh, the Congress sitting MP from Bangalore Rural, Jha said he had sought a detailed report in this regard from the Ramanagara deputy commissioner.

Jha said the Election Commission had decided to have at least one flying squad in every Assembly constituency to keep tabs on the violation of the election model code of conduct.