Integrated violet colour sketch pen for voting in Rajya Sabha election

Haryana Chief Electoral Officer Ankur Gupta on Thursday said that only integrated violet colour sketch  pen of  pre-fixed specifications  provided by the returning officer shall be used in the upcoming poll to the Rajya Sabha seat in the State.

“In order to conduct free, fair and peaceful election, only integrated violet colour sketch pen of the pre-fixed specification, provided by the returning officer, shall be used and no other pen under any circumstances should be used in the election, and for its close monitoring, the election process observer will be appointed by the Election Commission of India,” he said.  

The Election Commission of India has published schedule for Biennial Election to the Council of States to fill one seat which will be vacated due to the retirement of Shadi Lal Batra, sitting Member of Rajya Sabha.

In 2016, a controversy had erupted during Rajya Sabha polls in Haryana after votes of 12 MLAs of Congress were declared invalid for marking their preferences with a pen which was not officially supplied.

Gupta said that in the event of the election being contested, the poll will take place on March 23. Counting will be held on the same day at 5 p.m by the returning officer.