Implement ban on mobile phones in polling booths, EC directs Ranchi admin

Ranchi: Jharkhand chief electoral officer K Ravikumar on Monday directed Ranchi deputy commissioner Chhavi Ranjan to ensure that no unauthorized persons carry mobile phones, wireless sets, cordless phones and other communication devices within the 100-meter radius of polling booths across the Mandar assembly constituency on the voting day (June 23).
In his letter, the CEO also directed Ranjan to furnish a report on the action taken by him on the directives.
The CEO’s office said the DC, who is also the returning officer for the bypoll, was directed to ensure the privacy of the voters, in terms of maintaining the secrecy of the ballot while they are exercising their franchise and that the communicative devices are banned from use in the neighbourhood of a polling booth. The direction came after a complaint was filed recently about alleged unfair practices being adopted by one political party to lure the electorate to its candidate.
“It has been brought to our notice that workers of one political party are trying to lure the electorate in favour of their candidate by offering money on the voting day. We have received complaints that a section of the electorate has been promised money if they submitted proof of voting for the particular party candidate by taking photos of VVPAT trails through smartphones and showing them to the party workers,” an official in CEO’s office said, requesting anonymity.
Ravikumar, however, did not respond to TOI’s calls when contacted. Notably, as many as 14 candidates are in the fray for the bypoll. Voting will be held across 433 booths. Mandar has 3.49 lakh eligible voters as of date.