Election Commission directs theatres to play theme song to motivate voters

NEW DELHI: With election campaigning by political parties ending in the next two days, the Election Commission has directed all multiplexes and theatres in the city to play its theme song on to motivate the voters ahead of the polls.

Delhi Chief Electoral officer ( CEO) Chandra Bhushan Kumar had held a meeting with the senior representatives of multiplexes and theatres on Jan 30 during which CDs of the theme songs, composed by the EC, were distributed.

"It's a 2 minute video aimed at motivating Delhiites to get out of their houses on February 7 to cast their ballot. The theme song is being played just before the movie starts," said Gaurav Sharma, Duty Manager at Satyam Cinema at Janak Place.

Also, as part of its efforts to increase the voter turnout the Election Commission has started awareness campaigns to target commuters in buses of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and Metro.

The display panels installed inside and outside the DTC buses are running scrolls urging commuters travelling in DTC to vote on February 7.

One scroll reads, "Delhi voters remember your voting day, 7 February between 8 AM and 6 PM while another scroll reads, "Giving and accepting cash liquor for your vote may land you in prison."

The scrolls are being run both in Hindi and English. "The idea is to check the misuse of liquor and money during the Assembly polls here," said a senior official from the Election Commission.

Further, intensifying its voter awareness campaign, the Commission has also tied up with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.

Appeals are being made to the people through public announcement system to cast their voters at metro stations along with displaying "Delhi Votes" on display panels installed inside the coaches above the coach doors where the next station is mentioned.

Lakhs of people travel daily by metro and DTC buses, and this is one of the best modes to reach out to them, said CEO Chandra Bhushan Kumar.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Delhi had recorded around 64 per cent polling in the battle for seven seats while in the 2013 Assembly polls, Delhi had witnessed over 66 per cent voting.

Over 1.33 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in Delhi with a total of 11,763 polling stations to be set up for the exercise.

The Election Commission has been arranging various programmes in Educational instutions to encourage youths to cast their ballot.