Malda administration to issue EPIC from 20 Feb

MALDA, Feb 10: On 6 February the Malda district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh convened a meeting to inform all political leaders that the Election Commission will only recognise voters with electoral photo identity cards (EPICs).

Following the guidelines of the EC, the district magistrate has sought cooperation from all political leaders to achieve the 100 per cent target of voters with EPICs. The district administration would launch a comprehensive drive to issue EPICs from 20 February. Mr Ghosh confirmed: "The EC has strictly instructed that nobody be allowed in the polling station to cast their votes without an EPIC.” Political leaders were also requested at the meeting to ask voters to inform the authorities of any mistakes on the electoral roll this year. Electorates needing to update information would be asked to submit their applications as soon as possible. The Malda DM said that the election department will continue updating the electoral roll right up until notification of the general elections.

Mr Ghosh also asked political leaders to expose any factual mistakes regarding the listed polling stations. n SNS