EC arrives Surat to inspect pre-poll work

Surat, Oct 30: In a bid to hold free and fair assembly elections in Gujarat, the Chief Election Commissioner (EC) N Gopalaswamy today arrived here to supervise the poll preparations by the district administration. The CEC is on a three-day visit of Central and South Gujarat. While talking to the mediapersons here, Mr Gopalaswamy said the election card is strictly necessary in the forthcoming elections.None will be allowed to vote without the election photo identity card.

He expressed satisafaction over the way the preparatory work is underway in all the areas of the district, saying the election work in areas like Choryasi, Surat (East), Surat (West) and Olpad was lagging behind and there is a need to improve it.

In Surat, nearly 1,50,000 election photo identity cards will be distributed for the time being which, he felt, was a slow process considering the number of the city's population.

The rest, who have still not got the identity card, will be given the same from November 15 to December 5, Mr Gopalaswamy said. He informed that he has so far received 10 to 12 complaints about not adhering to the code of conduct.

UNI