UP elections: NGOs working for poll reforms to begin awareness campaign soon

ADR national coordinator Anil Verma said they will lead padyatras in all four regions of the state — namely west, east, central and Bundelkhand.

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The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) along with Uttar Pradesh Election Watch, both NGOs and working for electoral reforms, will start their voter awareness campaigns in Uttar Pradesh from next month, with a special focus on 40 Assembly segments, including all 19 seats in the drought-hit Bundelkhand region. The most populous state goes to polls early next year.

ADR national coordinator Anil Verma said they will lead padyatras in all four regions of the state — namely west, east, central and Bundelkhand. Voters will be made aware about the importance of electing a candidate with clean image.

UP Election Watch convenor Sanjay Singh said they have decided to work in 40 seats where they will have at least two volunteers up to booth-level. He said they decided to choose all 19 Assembly segments of Bundelkhand region because of the drought in the area.

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“We have an organisation there so we can work upto the booth-level. We will decide the names of all 40 seats by the end of June,” he said, adding that one initiative will be to encourage voters to go for NOTA option if they find no one suitable.

Singh said they have also decided to advocate the abolition of imposing party whip on MLAs during Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections so that the legislators could elect eligible candidates. He said they are also in favour of conducting simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

Verma said they will also be conducting surveys in the coming months to study how satisfied are they with their representatives. He said the survey will be done in select areas and its findings will be declared by November or December.

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