Karnataka bans voters from carrying mobile phones to polling stations
Bengaluru: Abiding by the order of Election Commission on India that was issued in 2007, banning mobile phones inside polling booths, Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) confirmed that the order will be ‘strictly implemented’ this time in the state during both phases of polling on April 18 and 23 in Karnataka.
“Though the standing order was issued by Election Commission of India way back in 2007, it will be implemented strictly this time” Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer, Sanjiv Kumar said while speaking to media.
“This year the security officials and presiding officers have been strictly instructed to prevent electors from carrying mobile phones inside the polling booth. In fact they will have to leave it 100 meters away from the polling stations. The ECI cannot arrange the facility for storage of Mobile phones hence it is on electors to not carry mobile phones or cameras with them” Kumar said.
Another poll official admitted that though the Model Code of Conduct has had the ban provision since 2007, it was not implemented during the previous elections for reasons such as shortage of manpower among others.
Section 128 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 prohibits electronic devices at polling stations. The Act also mandates maintenance of secrecy at polling booths, which the officials afraid is compromised with voters carrying mobile phones.
However, polling officials, security personnel, presiding officers and agents of candidates will be allowed to carry and use mobile phones at polling station.
Karnataka has 58,186 polling booths for 28 seats this year where about 5.11 crore people will cast their votes including 2.6 crore males and 2.5 crores females and 4661 other voters.
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Trump says he ‘hasn’t even thought about’ continuing Iran ceasefire
Washington: US President Donald Trump has said he has not yet considered whether he would continue the ceasefire involving Iran, while also claiming the United States holds the advantage in negotiations.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said he was prepared to make a deal with “whoever is running the show” in Iran.
“They are fighting with each other, there’s tremendous infighting. They’re probably fighting for leadership in many cases. I think they’re fighting not to be leader because we knocked out two levels of leaders,” he said.
Trump added, “When they want they can call me. We have all the cards, we’ve won everything.”
Referring to ongoing negotiations, he said, “They gave us a paper that should’ve been better. And, interestingly, immediately when I cancelled it [envoy trip to Pakistan], within 10 minutes we got a new paper that was much better.”
“We talked about they will not have a nuclear weapon, very simple … They offered a lot, but not enough,” he added.
When asked whether he would continue the ceasefire, Trump replied, “I haven’t even thought about it.”
The remarks come as uncertainty remains over the future of the temporary truce and broader negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
