Logistical difficulties in allowing NRIs to vote: CEC

Amid government's keenness to grant voting rights to Non-Resident Indians, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Navin Chawla today said there were 'logistical difficulties' in implementing the proposal.

There were "logistical difficulties" in reaching the NRIs as they were not confined to just one particular place, he told reporters here at the airport en route to Tiruchirappally. He also said some statutory changes had to be made in the relevant act to allow NRI's to vote.

Chawla said the commission had written to the Centre on the NRI voting issue. To a query, he said notices had been issued to 16 political parties asking them to furnish details by the month end on the poll expenses incurred during Lok Sabha elections last year.

The government had told Rajya Sabha on Thursday that it intended to confer voting rights on Indian passport holders working and living abroad.

Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said the matter will be taken up with the EC, noting the Prime Minister has already said it was under the government's consideration.