No More Selfies At Polling Booths As EC Bans Mobile Phones At Polling Stations For Everyone
The Chief Election Officer Satyabrata Sahoo of the state has said that except for the officials deployed on the election duty and the police personnel no other person would be allowed to carry mobile phone within 100 metres radius of the booth. The restriction will be applicable to mediapersons as well. He added that the restriction has been implemented to avoid any law and order problems.
After Bengaluru, the voters in Chennai won¡¯t be able to take selfies in front of polling station as the state election commission decides not to allow voters to use mobile phones during voting.
The Chief Election Officer, Satyabrata Sahoo, of the state has said that except for the officials deployed on the election duty and the police personnel, no other person would be allowed to carry mobile phone within 100 metres radius of the booth.
¡°The restriction will be applicable to mediapersons as well,¡± Sahoo told The New Indian Express he said.
He added that the restriction has been implemented to avoid any law and order problems. He said a total of 4, 466 cases have been registered for violation of model code of conduct across the state.
¡°A total of 1,410 cases had been registered against DMK and 1,119 cases slapped on AIADMK for various violations. The rest were against other parties, including Congress, BJP, PMK and DMDK,¡± he said. AIADMK topped the cases with 68 cases out of 261 filed for the distribution of cash, disrupting poll work and other violations, AMMK followed AIADMK with 55 cases.
Earlier, Bengaluru had banned the use of mobile phones near and inside a polling station on April 18 and 23. Chief election officer, Sanjiv Kumar had told TOI that the rule categorically states that no one is allowed to take mobiles inside booths.
AP
Bengaluru district electoral officer, N Manjunatha Prasad who also is Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) commissioner said: ¡°Barring polling officials, no one else can carry their phones inside stations.¡±
Prasad said that the Election Commission of India (ECI) had issued the standing order in 2007 and implementation will be done strictly this time.
¡°Electronic devices are prohibited at polling centres under Section 128 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The Act also mandates maintenance of secrecy at polling booths. I have issued strict guidelines to all booth officers and other supporting staff not to allow anyone carrying phones inside,¡± he said.
