Wednesday, July 27 2005 19:05 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: With the Election Commission making it mandatory for voters to have Photo Identity Cards (PICs) for exercising their franchise in the coming assembly poll in Bihar, governor Buta Singh said the administration had taken all possible steps to issue pics to all the electors before the elections.

"We have taken effective steps to ensure that every voter has pic. We have asked the district magistrates supervising the special drive launched for providing pics to take all possible steps in this connection", Singh told reporters.

He said the district magistrates were also instructed to hire private cameramen, if required, to cover all voters.

Pic centers have been opened in rural areas and we are trying to provide cards to maximum number of voters, Singh said.

Singh said the State officials would fully cooperate with the election commission teams currently on a visit to the State to take stock of poll preparations and would strictly follow the instructions and guidelines laid down by the commission.

State chief election officer N K Sinha had said, "As per rule, pic is necessary and the waiver allowing the voters with out pic to exercise their franchise in the last election by showing any of the 14 alternative documents stands withdrawn for the coming elections."