All set for polling on Wednesday amid high stakes
ECI allows alternative identity card for voting in Gurdaspur bypoll
Chandigarh, October 10, 2016: Election Commission of India (ECI) has allowed use of alternative identity card for the voter of Gurdaspur Parliamentary by election.
Spokesperson of the Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab said that those who are not having the elector’s photo identity card (EPIC, also called voter ID card) can exercise their franchise using alternative documents including Aadhaar card, passport, driving licence or service ID cards (with photograph) issued by central or state governments or public sector undertakings.
The ECI has also allowed bank or post office passbooks with photographs, PAN card, MGNREGA job card, health insurance smart card, pension documents and authenticated voter slips to be used as identity proof.
Meanwhile, the contesting political parties are reported to be giving last-minute touch to their preparations for the polling to be held on Wednesday, October 11.
The adequate security arrangements have been put in place. The election staff have also reported to have reached the polling booths assigned to them for conducting polling.
The bypoll was necessitated due to death of the sitting BJP MP Vinod Khanna.
The main contenders in fray are Sunil Jakhar of Congress, Swaran Salaria of BJP and Maj Gen (retd) Suresh Khajuria of AAP.
The result will be declared on October 15, 2017.