IPL matches to be used to create awareness among voters

In a bid to create awareness among voters in Maharashtra where Lok Sabha elections will be held in four phases beginning April 11, the election commission is targetting IPL matches that attract a large number of people.

The experiment has already started with a match played between the Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings which took place at Brabourne Stadium here on April 3.

"At that cricket match, all relevant material was displayed for creating awareness amongst the voters," he said.

The initiative was taken following a suggestion by the Election Commission of India which had asked the office of the Maharashtra Chief Electoral Officer to contact the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for arranging a voter awareness campaign, an official has said.

The poll official said representatives of the BCCI were contacted and the relevant material and literature delivered to them.

"Voters will also be appealed in a similar fashion during upcoming IPL matches to be held in Mumbai," the official said.

He said banners, handbills and short advertisements conveying the need to vote to strengthen the democracy will be displayed and telecast through goodwill ambassadors during the matches.

Besides, FM radio will also be used for reaching out to voters.