Kinnaur MLA seeks more poll stations

Tribune News Service

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Shimla, February 27

Jagat Singh Negi, legislator from the tribal district of Kinnaur, has urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to set up at least one dozen new polling stations in his Assembly segment as voters, especially infirm and old, will not trudge long distances to cast their vote.

Negi has handed over a list of 16 polling stations, mentioning the distance that people will have to walk to reach these, to the ECI. This includes the polling station of Katgaon, for which people would have to walk around 10 km to cast their vote. He urged that a new polling station must be set up at Kangarang for the convenience of voters.

Similarly, he has requested the setting up of new polling stations at Dutrang, Shango, Bai, Homte, Hoae, Khab, Dubling, Telangi, Gurguri, Dabling, Hurwa, Nanaspo, Chonda, Rokcharang and Jankpuri. “People of Talangpii village will have to walk 6 km on foot to reach the nearest polling station at Powari so I have requested that a station be set up at Telangi,” he said.

Negi said in almost a dozen villages, people have to walk 3-10 km to be able to exercise their right to franchise. “If the Election Commission is keen that maximum people cast their vote, then they will have to set up polling stations as close to their homes as possible,” he said. He said harsh terrain and geographical constraints make it even more difficult for people to walk for long distances.