The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Election authorities ready for polls in State

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Saturday, Mar 15, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Election authorities ready for polls in State

Special Correspondent

Process of delimitation has been completed

Revised voters’ list in the process of being notified
50 lakh names deleted from list, 25 lakh added

Bangalore: The election authorities in the State have completed the process of delimitation of 224 Assembly constituencies and in accordance with the recommendations of the Delimitation Commission of India.

The Election Commission of India had directed that the final list of voters of rural constituencies be published by March 10 and that of voters in urban constituencies, particularly those within the limits of municipal corporations, by March 20. While the revised voters’ list of rural constituencies has been published, that of urban constituencies will be ready in three days.

State Chief Electoral Officer R. Ramaseshan told presspersons here on Friday that the final revised voters’ list for all constituencies was in the process of being notified.

“We are ready to hold elections at any time, and it is up to the Election Commission to issue the necessary directions,” he said. With the Election Commission being the sole authority to finalise the election calendar, the Chief Electoral Officer refused to comment on possible election dates.

During a recent visit to Bangalore, the Election Commission categorically stated it was duty bound to complete the election process before May 28 (the six-month deadline for President’s Rule). If the commission puts off the elections, it has to justify its action.

Sources in the office of the Chief Electoral Officer here said the Election Commission had been informed about the state of readiness of the election machinery.

Mr. Ramaseshan said presently the final voters’ list of over half the number of Assembly constituencies was ready and that of the remaining constituencies, except Bangalore city and other city corporations, would be completed in three days. The final voters’ list of Bangalore city would be made public on March 20.

On providing photo identity cards to voters, it was said it would take at least a month to complete the process. All Deputy Commissioners had been asked take measures to issue ID cards to voters.

There are 3.98 crore voters in the State. “We have deleted the names of 50 lakh voters and added 25 lakh voters in the revised list,” the Chief Electoral Officer said.

On the complaints from political parties about “bogus voters” even in the revised rolls, Mr. Ramaseshan said, “Let the political parties provide evidence and we will take action and correct it. It is more a case of voters not getting their names deleted after shifting their place of residence.”

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