Mock poll one hour before start of polling
Bhopal: District Election Officers have been directed to conduct mock poll one hour before actual polling in lok Sabha constituencies. It has been directed that minimum 50 votes should be cast in EVMs during mock poll in the presence of polling agents and their results should be shown to them. At the time of mock poll, presiding officers should ascertain from polling agents that indicator in front of the candidate being voted is alighted when the button is pressed. If snag is detected in any EVM, it should be replaced immediately. The commission has said that videography of mock poll should be done where its facility is available. It should be ascertained from candidates and polling agents of political parties that actual polling has been started only after deleting results of mock poll from EVMs.
Know status in electoral roll through SMS
Bhopal: SMS facility has been provided by office of the Election Commission to voters to help them know name of their polling booth on polling day. Through SMS voters can know about their polling booth and serial number in electoral rolls. For this, they will have to send SMS to 51969. Voters can obtain such information by typing MP space EPIC without space. Following this they will have to type their EPIC card number and send the same to 51969. Following this, they will receive a return message showing polling booth and serial number in the electoral rolls. links have also been given on website of CEO’s office http://www.ceomadhyapradesh.nic.in to facilitate voters. Toll-free number 1950 has also been provided for this at the CEO’s office. Polling will be held in 10 lok Sabha constituencies will be held on April 24 in Madhya Pradesh.
Paid holiday declared in 10 lS constituencies Bhopal: Paid holiday has been declared for workers of commercial, business and industrial units for voting in 10 Parliamentary constituencies Vidisha, Dewas, Ujjain, Mandsaur, Ratlam, Dhar, Indore, Khargone, Khandwa and Betul on April 24 in the third phase. The labour Department has issued a notification to this effect. According to the provision, daily wagers and contingency workers will also be entitled for the paid holiday. Penal action will be taken against employers violating this directive.
Meanwhile, the General Administration Department has also declared a public holiday in these 10 Parliamentary constituencies on April 24 to facilitate government officers and employees in exercising their franchise. A notification to this effect has been issued.
Option for voting through alternative id
Bhopal: For those, who do not have EPIC cards, the Election Commission has given option to produce alternative photo identity documents on polling day. This facility will be provided to only those voters who do not possess EPIC card though whose names have been included in electoral rolls. Polling under third phase of lok Sabha elections will be held on April 24 in 10 constituencies including Vidisha, Dewas, Ujjain, Mandsaur, Ratlam, Dhar, Indore, Khargone, Khandwa and Betul from 7 am to 6 pm.
Voters will have to produce one of these documents for establishing their identity – passport, driving licence, personnel ID card of central or state government offices, photo-bearing passbooks of banks or post offices, PAN cards, Aadhar Cards, Smart Card issued under RGI under MPR, MNREGA Job Cards, Health Insurance Smart Card issued under labour Ministry’s schemes, photo-bearing pension cards and photo-bearing voter slip issued as per commission’s directive.
Besides, NRI voters can exercise their franchise by showing just passport as identity and no other document.
Diggy guilty of contempt: Gaur
Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Home Affairs and Jails Minister and ex-chief minister Babulal Gaur on Tuesday alleged that Congress General Secretary and former chief minister Digvijay Singh committed contempt of the judiciary through rhetoric against the High Court. “Singh attacked the Third Estate as he is jittery regarding the increasing popularity of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi and the BJP among the state’s voters. The Congress must clarify whether it supports the remarks by Singh who should apologise,” he said in a statement.
The Congress leader spoke at a poll rally in Ratlam on Monday.
2,700 litres of IMFl, truck tyres seized
Bhopal: Election Commission appointed surveillance teams have seized over 2,700 litres of IMFl worth about Rs one crore from poll-bound Harda district of Madhya Pradesh. Officials said a team of Excise department officials and other EC appointed functionaries intercepted a vehicle carrying about 3,000 cases of Haryana-made Indian Made Foreign liquor (IMFl) in the district after they were tipped off about the movement of the spirits in the poll-bound area. Harda, which falls under Betul lok Sabha constituency, will go to polls on April 24.
“The IMFl was made in Haryana and was meant for sale only in that state. It was seized under the ongoing election expenditure monitoring exercise which is aimed to act against illegal induements being offered to voters,” a senior official said.
The EC squad also seized about 18 truck tyres from the same area as they were being suspected to be transported illegally. The cost of the tyres is about `25 lakh, the official said.
IGRMS: Vipanchi, veena attracting visitors
Bhopal: Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (IGRMS), Bhopal is engaged to portray the story of mankind in time and space. The Sangrahalaya promotes research and training for salvaging and revitalisation important cultural traditions which are on the verge of extinction. ‘Vipanchi’ exhibition on “Veena” musical cultural heritage through the ages at Rock Art Heritage Centre, Manav Sangahalaya is attracting visitors.
Vipanchi in Sanskrit means “Veena” an ancient Indian musical instrument. It is known by different names like vallaki, kachhapi, Sarika, Mahati etc. Veena is traditionally believed to have been handed over to the most gifted and devoted persons by the blessings of Goddess Saraswati.
This divinely blessed musical instrument traces the history and tradition of Veena from the vedic times. Among the all stringed instruments, veena is more scientifically developed for melody.
The classical Veena’s have as many as twenty four and some finest instruments are made in Thanjavur, Mysore, Bobbili and Trivandrum.
The exhibition ‘Vipanchi’ depicts a grand story of Veena cultural heritage and its different traditions. The realm of Veena is one of the oldest musical traditions that continue to survive today.