Electoral roll to be published by July 31
Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath on Tuesday hinted that Jharkhand will go to Assembly polls in November after Chhath festival which falls on October 28.
“First consideration before us is of monsoon and later festivals. Almost whole of September and October are packed with lots of festivals. We have to take all these into account before announcing the election schedule,” the CEC told media persons after concluding his two-day visit to the State during which he took stock of the poll preparedness and views of the political parties. Setting tone for the Assembly election in Jharkhand, Sampath further said that the Election Commission has fixed date for publishing final electoral roll in the State. The Commission which is continuing with summery revision exercise throughout the State at present would release the final names by July 31.
“Individuals can apply for adding names on personalised basis till the last day of filing nomination if one applies 10 days before it,” he added.
“The Election Commission is doing extensive summary revision of the electoral rolls. We have got 7.17 lakh new applications thus far for addition. We have already published draft roll and by July 31 the final electoral roll would be published," the CEC said while addressing the media after a daylong consultation with Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police, Divisional Commissioners besides, Deputy Inspector Generals and Inspector Generals of police.
The CEC along with his two deputies HS Brahma and Syed Nasim Ahmad Zaidi is also slated to visit other poll-bound states like Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Maharashtra. The team would also go on similar assessment tours of J&K and Maharashtra before deciding final poll dates. Haryana is to undergo polls in October.
The CEC at the same time also expressed satisfaction over unprecedented voter turnout recorded in Jharkhand during parliamentary polls in May. “We want to take this even further this time. The Commission wants to reduce the gender disparity and by special SVEEP (Systematic Voter Education and Electoral Participation) programme we will also bring more and more young voters into the process. The Commission would deploy campus ambassadors which would play a bridge between the students and the Commission,” he added.