MP polls: Jhabua admin withdraws drive to paste awareness

Authorities in tribal-dominated Jhabua district seem to have gone overboard about spreading awareness for voting in forthcoming polls, without realising that their idea to paste stickers on the liquor bottles for the purpose flies in the face of norms.

The move, aimed at spreading awareness about importance of voting for the November 28 assembly polls, has been stopped by the Election Commission officials.

Jhabua district collector ordered removal of stickers from bottles, after the social media became abuzz with reports.

"The Jhabua Collector got two lakh stickers printed for pasting on the liquor bottles and nearly 200 stickers were already pasted on bottles containing legally made liquor," State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) V L Kantharao told reporters Monday.

"The moment we came to know about such stickers, we immediately stopped the drive. Now these stickers will be pasted on some other items," he said.

The stickers were printed in the names of Jhabua collector and district electoral officer Ashish Saxena.

They carried a message in tribal language: "Hangla Vote Jaroori Se, Button dabawa Nu, Vote Nahkva Nu" (Everyone's vote is necessary, press button for voting).

The stickers had been distributed among liquor contractors for raising awareness among people on importance of voting and pasting on bottles, explained an official.

"However, as soon as the matter came to light, the district administration on Sunday withdraw this decision," he said.