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Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has said, political parties will have to give justification if they chose a candidate with a criminal background.
The CEC was addressing a press conference at Gandhinagar last evening after reviewing election preparedness for assembly polls in Gujarat. Mr. Kumar said candidates with criminal backgrounds will have to advertise their criminal records so that citizens can make informed decisions.
CEC added that the final voter list for the upcoming state assembly elections will be released on October 10. Mr. Kumar said webcasting will be done at 50 percent of sensitive polling stations in the state to ensure that polls are conducted in a transparent and fair environment. Mr Kumar said, for the first time in Gujarat, voters above 80 years will be facilitated to cast their vote from home. He said, one Model polling station will be set up in each constituency which will be equipped with technology and eco-friendly facilities. The CEC also informed that seven polling stations in each constituency will be managed by women.
Mr Kumar said, the commission has accepted many of the suggestions from the political parties including strict action to curb freebies. The parties also suggested disallowing political parties and candidates from ferrying voters and seeking permission from industries for the workers on the day of polling among others.
Mr. Kumar informed that more than 4 lakh 83 thousand voters are registered in the state, out of which 2.5 lakh are male voters and 2 lakh 37 thousand are female voters. There are more than 10 lakh 36 thousand voters above 80 years of age in the state, of which include 11 thousand 800 voters of 100 years old. For the first time, the commission has registered nearly 1290 third-gender voters. He urged young voters to exercise their franchise in the coming assembly elections.
The top team of the Election Commission of India led by the Chief Election Commissioner held review meetings with the District Election Officers, the District Police Chief, and the Range IG and DIG of the Police Force on Monday and Tuesday.