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The Election Commission has increased the voting time for the May 5 elections on the request of political parties. The voting will now start at 7 am and close at 5 pm instead of the earlier schedule of 8 am to 5 pm.
Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath, who held a series of meetings with political parties, chief secretary, home secretary, director general of police and senior income tax department officials on April 8 and 9, told reporters that the extended voting period would help voters exercise their right.
"We have held detailed discussions with political parties and officials connected with the election work and based on the feedback from parties, we have decided to increase the voting time from 7 am to 5 pm. We have also decided to facilitate the distribution of electoral photo identity cards to residual voters even on the polling day as requested by the political parties," Sampath told reporters.
In addition to this, the commission has also decided to allow political parties to set up their booths about 200 metres from the respective polling station and distribute voters' slip as has been the practice for many years, he said.
Sampath said the political parties would be allowed to distribute drinking water to voters outside the polling stations considering the summer season.
He said in order to ensure free and fair polls, the commission had decided to prohibit entry of unauthorised persons inside the polling station as per the request of the parties.
The commission will strictly monitor the distribution of money and gifts like watches, sarees and shawls, among others, by the political parties. "It is a criminal and penal offence under Section 171 of the Indian Penal Code and penal action will be initiated on persons involving in such acts as well as seize those articles," Sampath said.
In order to ensure curbs on lavish expenditure by candidates, the Election Commission has also decided to appoint expenditure observes and micro expenditure observes to keep a vigil on the candidates' expenses. "We have also appointed a large number of expenditure observers to keep track of the expenditure by the political parties in addition to general and police observers to oversee poll arrangements," the chief election commissioner said. To help the public file complaints, the toll free helpline No 1950 has been further strengthened with additional 30 lines from today, he said.
The commission has also issued stringent instructions to Commissioner of Excise to identify unofficial liquor godowns and put strict vigilance on movement of liquor stocks from distilleries to warehouses and to retail points. Excise department officials have been instructed to identify and seize unofficial liquor stocks.
As part of streamlining of candidates' expenditure the candidates have been asked to open separate bank account and all expenditure will be routed through this account.
