In a novel move to monitor the enthusiasm among voters about exercising their franchise in coming state assembly elections, the Election Commission would appoint awareness observers during the assembly elections that are scheduled by the end of this year.
Joint Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) DD Singh, talking with the reporters here on Wednesday said, awareness observers would measure the consciousness among voters for casting votes during elections. “They would then prepare a report which will be sent to the Election Commission of India and based on their reports measures would be taken to ensure larger participation of people in next elections,” said the CEO and added that very soon the awareness observers would be appointed.
Meanwhile a meeting scheduled to be held through video conferencing by Chief Electoral Officer Sunil Kujur with district Collectors and Superintendents of Police (SPs) was postponed. The video conferencing to review the election preparation was scheduled on October 3.
Sources in the CEO office, informed that a video conferencing would be called by Deputy Election Commissioner (DEC) R Balakrishnan in connection with the poll preparedness however the exact time of the video conferencing is yet be fixed due to excessive busy schedule of the Election Commission of India officers.To ensure safe polling in the Naxal heartland Bastar, sources informed that deployment of about a dozen helicopters has been demanded from the Election Commission of India. In the last state assembly elections held in 2008, six choppers were used four from central allotment and two of Chhattisgarh. However, when contacted police and election commission officials they denied of disclosing any information in this connection.
Joint CEO Singh further informed that voters’ list revision has almost been completed. To a quarry about objections raised by political parties regarding people living in Salwa Judum camp, Singh said that it is possible that people who were earlier living in Salwa Judum camp would have shifted to their native places and those corrections have been made in the new list.