64k aged above 85 yrs in city to vote from home this time: Commissioner
CHENNAI: At least 63,849 elderly persons above 85 years have been identified in the city and efforts to facilitate voting from home for these voters are on, said the district election officer and Chennai Corporation Commissioner J Radhakrishnan on Monday after meeting the political parties at Ripon building.
Speaking to the reporters, the commissioner said that the political party members have been directed not to violate the model code of conduct and to ensure there are no incidents of voter intimidation, impersonation, or to not hold public meetings or campaigns within 48 hours - silence period before polls - till the polling ends.
Arrangement of commuting for the voters to the polling station by the party members is an illegal practice and it should be strictly avoided, added the commissioner.
Every candidate should maintain a new bank account till the election results are announced and a candidate can spend up to Rs 95 lakh in a constituency, he explained. The candidate shall bear the election expenses within this limit and every candidate shall submit their expenditure account to the District Election Officer within 30 days of the declaration of election results. In case of default, there is a disqualification procedure as per the Indian Election Code of Conduct, he added.
“There are 63,849 elderly people above 85 years identified in the city, as per the election commission data. We have taken measures to facilitate a smooth process of vote from home for differently abled with more than 40 percent disability. Even though they are willing to cast their vote at polling booths, preparatory measures have been taken,” added Radhakrishnan.
In addition, the civic body has taken necessary steps to remove banners and hoardings of both government and public properties.
A total of 8,377 banners, wall paintings, and posters of both public and government properties have been removed in 16 constituencies so far, he said. Out of these, 5139 wall paintings, 2,939 posters, and 149 banners were cleared in the city.