Election Commission orders photographing of Manipur voters

This is to prevent impersonation, rigging

For the first time, the 62-year old Election Commission has ordered the photographing of all voters of Manipur on January 28, when the State goes to the polls, in order to prevent rigging and impersonation.

Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi and Election Commissioners V.S. Sampath and H.S. Brahma took the decision on Thursday at Imphal, where they reviewed the poll preparedness with State government officials and representatives of political parties. The voters will be photographed when indelible ink mark is applied on the fingers. Manipur has an electorate of 16,77,270 spread over 60 constituencies.

On requests from political parties, the Commission replaced Director-General of Police Y. Joykumar Singh with Ratnakar Bral. Mr. Bral assumed charge immediately.

The Commission will visit Lucknow on Friday to review the poll preparedness for the seven-phase Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, beginning February 4. Besides reviewing the law and order and updating of the photo electoral rolls and ensuring strict implementation of the model code of conduct, the Commission will hold a meeting with the representatives of recognised political parties.

Notification issued

Meanwhile, the Governors of Punjab and Uttarakhand on Thursday issued notifications for the Assembly elections scheduled for January 30.

The last date for the filing of nominations is January 12.