PATNA: The Election Commission has decided to use the videotape of Team India skipper M S Dhoni wherein he urges voters to exercise their franchise for Bihar assembly polls. The videotape, used during the Jharkhand polls, would be repeated on various television channels soon. The EC has also roped in Bihar’s noted folk singer Sharada Sinha to encourage voters to cast their valuable vote.
“The videotape, with Dhoni’s message to voters, will be aired in a couple of days to motivate voters to cast vote,” said Bihar additional chief electoral officer Kumar Anshumali.
The first phase of elections is slated on October 21.
The EC has already initiated an intensive campaign in Bihar through a series of street-corner plays, hoardings, newspaper ads and on major TV channels. “We are also in the process of inserting a jingle in Radio Mirchi for making appeal to voters,” Anshumali told reporters here on Thursday.
Bihar’s poll percentage has been hovering around 42-45 percent as against the national average of 55-60 percent. The poll panel recently conducted a survey to assess the reasons for the low voter turnout. The state’s prestigious A N Sinha Institute of Social Studies also conduct a similar survey.
According to the findings, large scale migration is cited as one of the major reasons for the low voter turnout in the state. The low turnout is mainly concentrated among the age group of 18-25. Citing reasons, the findings say most of the students in this age group have migrated to other cities for higher studies. Secondly, there is also a complete lack of awareness and interest among youths to vote.
An expert of the study group said weather condition have also made a major impact on voters turnout. Moreover, perennial floods, mostly in North Bihar districts have made adverse impact on poll percentage.
Non-issuance of electoral photo identity cards (EPICs) to voters is said to be another reason for the low voter turnout.
During last elections in Bihar, only 50 percent of the EPICs were delivered to the voters. EC officials are hopeful that the voters turnout are expected to increase mainfold given that 90 percent EPICs have been delivered to voters in the state this time.
Read more: EC to use Dhoni videotape – The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/EC-to-use-Dhoni-videotape/articleshow/6777150.cms#ixzz12vlmGmsb