EC: Indelible ink should not impact poll process

Poll panel asks Union government to ensure use of indelible ink at banks doesn’t affect the poll process in five states, including Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission has asked the government to ensure that the use of indelible ink in banks doesn’t “affect” the polling process in upcoming by-elections and assembly elections in several states.

Earlier this week, the government decided to use indelible ink to stop multiple exchanges of old `500 and `1,000 notes — which were withdrawn in an abrupt move last week.

Economic affairs secretary Shaktikanta Das said the ink would be crucial in unclogging choked queues outside banks and ATMs. The ink is the same as used in polling booths to stop people from voting more than once.

The letter from the Election Commission to the finance ministry detailed the rules regarding indelible ink for polling. It said the ink is usually put on the index finger of the left hand. If the person doesn’t have an index finger, then any other finger of the hand can be used — in the absence of the left hand, the ink can be applied on any finger of the right hand.

“ln view of the current by-elections and upcoming general elections to legislative assemblies of some of the states, it is requested that the above mentioned provisions of rules regarding application of indelible ink at elections and the commission’s instructions in this regard should be duly taken into consideration,” the letter said.