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A riddle in Election Commission's roll revision in Bihar: 'Missing' voters
Shikha Chaturvedi New Delhi
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Ever since the Election Commission (EC) rolled out its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive in Bihar, millions across the poll-bound state have scrambled to gather one of 11 official documents that the poll body has asked them to furnish. The sweeping exercise, the EC says, is to update and 'cleanse' the electoral rolls. It is aimed at tackling longstanding issues in the voter lists — illegal immigrants, underreported deaths, and frequent migration of domiciled citizens.
Critics, including former EC officials, and also citizens' groups who petitioned the Supreme Court, have argued that the SIR's 'narrow' criteria and 'poor timing' could
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Time of India
39 minutes ago
- Time of India
EC doubles pay for BLOs involved in roll revision
. NEW DELHI: A day after asking its poll personnel in the field to ignore repeated threats and allegations by some opposition netas and continue working impartially, the Election Commission decided to reward the officers involved in electoral roll revision, reports Bharti Jain. For booth-level officers (BLOs), annual remuneration and incentive for roll revision stands doubled to Rs 12,000 and Rs 2,000 respectively. These rates were last revised in 2015. BLOs will also get Rs 6,000 as special incentive for special intensive revision (SIR). The BLO supervisor will receive an annual remuneration of Rs 18,000 as against Rs 12,000, in force since 2015. EROs and assistant EROs, who did not get any honorarium so far, will now receive an honorarium of Rs 30,000 and Rs 25,000 each. Stating that pure electoral rolls are bedrock of democracy, EC Saturday commended the electoral roll machinery comprising EROs, Asst EROs, BLO supervisors and BLOs for doing "a lot or hard work" and playing "a pivotal role in preparation of transparent rolls". The commission said decision to raise their remuneration/incentive 'reflects EC's commitment to adequately compensate election personnel who work tirelessly at field level to maintain accurate poll rolls, assist voters and strengthen the electoral process'. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Moose Approaches Girl At Bus Stop In As Suways - Watch What Happens Happy in Shape Undo The raised compensation comes after repeated attacks by opposition parties against the EC. On Friday, Rahul Gandhi had accused the EC of 'vote chori' (vote theft) during Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka and said he had an 'atom bomb' of evidence to back his claim.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Over 2 lakh forms requesting Mahadevi's return to Nandani Jain mutt sent to President
Kolhapur: An online petition initiated by MLC Satej Patil garnered 2,04,421 signatures nationwide, demanding the relocation of the elephant, named Mahadevi alias Madhuri, to the Jain mutt in Nandani. On Saturday morning, the signed petition forms were sanctified by Jinsen Bhattarak Pattacharya, the chief of the Jain mutt, and sent to President Draupadi Murmu via post from Kolhapur's Ramanmala post office by Satej Patil and former MLA Ruturaj Patil. Speaking on the occasion, Satej Patil said, "After the Supreme Court's decision, a lot of disappointment spread among the people. This discontent can be seen as within 48 hours, 2,04,421 people from across the nation signed the petition supporting the call to bring the elephant back to the Nandani Jain mutt. We took printouts of all these forms, sanctified them by the chief of the mutt, and then sent them to the President. We request President Draupadi Murmu to give attention to this and resolve thë issue." Patil also commented on Vantara CEO Vivaan Karani's visit to Kolhapur on Friday, saying, "We were not invited. Only Mahayuti party MLAs and MPs were invited for the meeting when the CEO of Vantara arrived in Kolhapur. Therefore, we do not know anything about what discussions were held, what agreement took place or whether a settlement was done. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The guardian minister has said it is a legal issue and legal procedure will have to be followed, but Mahayuti MLAs and MPs should declare in how many days the elephant will be brought back. As an opposition party member, we have done the work of showcasing public sentiments in front of the President." He added, "Elephants causing menace in Ajara, Chandgad, and Bhudargad regions should be taken to Vantara instead of this tamed temple elephant. If they give a protocol, then we assure them that the elephant will be taken care of as per their guidelines. This is an issue of religious and traditional beliefs. If over 14,000 cow shelters are run by Jain communities across the world, then how can someone say that they can't manage a single elephant?" Meanwhile, several villages in Kolhapur and Sangli districts observed a village bandh on Saturday, shutting down businesses and schools. Rallies were held in these villages demanding the return of the elephant to Nandani. The elephant's rehabilitation from the mutt to a Jamnagar facility, carried out on the night of July 29 after the Supreme Court dismissed the mutt's appeal against the Bombay high court order directing such relocation, prompted an emotionally and politically charged campaign to bring Mahadevi back. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
4 of total 16 elections held for vice-president posts won uncontested
NEW DELHI: Four of the total 16 elections held so far to the office of Vice-President of India were won uncontested, three due to rejection of nomination papers of the rival candidates and one due to lack of any opponent. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now While S Radhakrishnan was elected unopposed as Vice-President twice, first in 1952 after the only other nomination paper filed was rejected and then in 1957 as he was the only validly nominated candidate; Mohammad Hidayatullah was elected unopposed in 1979. In 1987, Shankar Dayal Sharma was also elected unopposed, but only after the nomination papers filed by 26 other candidates were found to be invalid. There were two contestants in 10 of the Vice-Presidential elections held so far, and three and six contestants in one each. Five Vice-Presidents exited the office before the end of their term - Krishna Kant due to his untimely demise in 2002; V V Giri, R Venkataraman and Shankar Dayal Sharma resigned from the post of Vice-President to become President in 1969 (Giri filled up the vacancy created by the death of his predecssor Zakir Hussain),1987 and 1992 respectively. Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned due to "medical reasons" last week. These interesting details on 16 Vice-Presidential elections held so far can be found in a booklet put together by EC ahead of the 17th Vice-Presidential election, summarising the Constitutional provisions relating to the election, system of voting, and details of past elections in simple language, to enhance public awareness. Though the electoral college for the Vice-Presidential election is small, comprising only members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, including nominated ones, invalid votes were reported in almost all the elections that witnessed a contest. While 14 votes were declared invalid in the 1962 Vice-Presidential poll, the number was 3 in 1967, 10 in 1974, 30 in 1984, 10 in 1992, 46 in 1997, 7 in 2002, 10 in 2007, 8 in 2012, 11 in 2017 and 15 in 2022.
