JC calls upon people to utilise voting right for ensuing polls

Ongole: Joint Collector S Nagalakshmi on Thursday, called upon people to utilise their voting right in the context of the ensuing panchayat, municipal, Assembly and Parliament elections. 

Speaking at the Eighth National Voters’ Day in Prakasam Bhavan, the JC stated that in the ensuing elections VV Pad machines, which help in counting of votes, besides electronic voting machines, would be used. She said that many awareness programmes including quiz, debate, essay-writing and elocution competitions, for the benefit of youth, on the importance of exercising voting rights have been taken up in the district. 

She said a new intensive revision of electoral roles was being taken up in urban areas. As many as 10,000 have been registered as services voters. A camapaign to target youth aged 18-21 years in colleges for registration of voters has been taken up.

Joint Collector II D Markendeyulu stated that as votes determine the country’s future those without voting rights should register themselves. Pothula Sunita, MLC, described voting right as powerful as it indicated State’s future. She stressed the importance of youth aged 18 getting compulsorily registered as voters. 

Among the veteran voters honoured with a bouquet, shawl and a memento at the function were G Vandanam (101), a retired teacher, T Subbaravamma (94), Kommineni Venkatasubbayya (90), R V S Bharadwaja (89), a retired teacher, Basanapall Vardhanamma (88), Lakkireddy Venkat Reddy (82), Dr Mallavarapu Venkataratnam(80), a retired teacher, Nune Jaganmohan Rao (80).

Copies of Oxford Dictionary and books written by Dr B R Ambedkar, Swamy Vivekananda and A P J Abdul Kalam were presented to students who won in essay-writing and elocution competitions. Election Watch President M Nageswara Rao administered a Voter Day pledge to the gathering.

Kuchipudi dance by Harshita, Shravani, Vaishnavi, Charvita and a programme on human values by students of AP Model School, Mundlamuru, received appreciation of the audience. Students of DRRM High School took out rally to Church Centre to mark the day. 

Among those present were DRO Dr S Prabhakar Reddy, RDO K Srinivasa Rao, DEO Subba Rao, Tahsildar Chiranjeevi, CPO K T Venkayya, AD Minority Welfare Jhansi Lakshmi, MEPMA PD Annapurna, SDC V Narsimhulu, DSDO Yathiraj, STEP CEO Dr V Ravi, BC Corporation official Nageswara Rao, Disabled Welfare AD Singayya, DSO Venkateswarlu.