EC to protect poor Bihar voters from influence

The Election Commission on Thursday reviewed the security arrangements in Bihar for the assembly election starting on February 3.

Chief Election Commissioner T S Krishnamurthy, along with election commissioners N Gopalaswamy and B B Tandon, arrived in Patna after a visit to Jharkhand.

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The CEC said adequate security arrangements would be provided to the poor to ensure that political parties did not influence them during voting.

Responding to the state government's demand for more paramilitary forces, he said the commission would approach the Union home ministry in this regard.

In Naxalite-hit areas, however, more paramilitary forces would be deployed, he said.

Krishnamurthy said electronic voting machines would not be used if paramilitary forces did not reach the polling booths in time.

Also, special observers would be stationed to check electioneering in the state, he said.

Krishnamurthy said 65 per cent of voters had been given photo identity cards.