Kakinada, March 22: istrict Collector M. Ravi Chandra on Saturday asked the election staff to allow the representatives of local bodies to cast their vote only after verifying their identity cards in the election to the Legislative Council to be held on Monday.
Addressing a review meeting with the officials here, Mr. Ravi Chandra asked the polling staff to discharge their duties without fear and favour. He said identity cards had already been issued to all the voters and mandal development officers concerned would be available at the polling stations to issue the same to those who failed to bring the cards. He asked the officials to ensure privacy of voters in the polling stations and take the help of the EOPRDs to confirm the identity of the voters. Stating that the polling would be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mr. Ravi Chandra asked the officials not to close the polling stations in advance, but allow the voters those who were in queue by 4 p.m. to cast their vote. The polling would be held simultaneously in five places and in all 1,237 representatives of local bodies were going to cast their vote. Section 144 would be promulgated at the polling stations. Joint Collector and Election Officer K. Sasidhar was present.
–Agencies