Reconsider issuance of voters' slips by local officials: Cong

Alleging that a large number of complaints regarding irregularities in the distribution of voters' slips had been received in BJP-ruled states, Congress today urged Election Commission to reconsider its decision to entrust district officials with the issuance and distribution of such slips.
In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath, the Secretary of AICC's Legal Department, KC Mittal, said, "Local officers in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have been involved in the distribution of voters' slips, (but) a bulk of slips are being handed over to their (BJP) workers."
He also alleged that money was paid to local officials for colluding in the matter. Mittal said that voters' slips were distributed in a manner so as to exclude those who are known to be Congress supporters.

"Such irregularities and improper distribution of voters' slips vitiates the entire electoral process and gives an opportunity for manipulation," Mittal said.
EC has been issuing instructions from time to time for distribution of voters' slips by district administrations.
"It is, therefore, in the circumstances requested that (EC) may kindly get the facts verified and reconsider the (question) of issuance and distribution of voters' slips by the district administration," Mittal said.