Graduate voters abstain from registering
NIZAMABAD: Older graduates, and those employed with private institutions, are not showing interest to enrol as voters under for the Legislative Council’s Karimnagar graduates constituency. They are dissuaded by the repeat nature of the exercise.
As per Election Commission of India (ECI) orders, graduates should enrol as voters for every MLC election. New voters are ready to enrol their details, but senior others are not as enthusiastic. November 6 is the last date.
There were around 2 lakh graduates in the previous election. Around 2.3 lakh voters have enrolled so far for the constituency which consists of undivided Karimnagar, Adilabad, Nizamabad and Medak districts. It is expected that around 3 lakh graduates will be enrolled as voters, though the number far exceeds that figure.
The ECI has provided an opportunity for graduates to enrol online. Their details, however, should be verified by the booth level officers. Instead of facilitating enrolment, it is becoming a hindrance as officials are reportedly asking the online applicants to visit tahsildar offices to show their original certificates.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Karimnagar graduates MLC constituency aspirant Narender Reddy said they are trying their level best to encourage graduates to enrol. “I visited 16 educational institutions in Kamareddy district on Saturday to interact with the graduates,” he said.
On the other hand, graduates, who mostly engage in private organisations for employment, are not showing interest to enrol. However, a few resident associations of colonies and apartments are urging them to sign up. Voters awareness campaign by the officials is also not up to the mark.
J. Chandrashekar, a private employee, said he enrolled his name for previous poll. Enrollment as a voter for every election is not convenient for people, he said. Election Commission of India should alter the norms for ease of franchising of votes in Legislative Council elections, he said.