Thursday, July 28 2005 15:41 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Aurangabad: Photo Identity Cards (PIC) will be compulsory for exercising voting rights in the coming Bihar assembly polls and none of the 14 other alternative identification documents would be allowed, special advisor to the Election Commission of India K J Rao said today (July 28,2005).

PIC will be compulsory for exercising franchise and none of the other 14 alternative identification proofs, which were allowed in the past polls, will be applicable in the coming state assembly elections, Rao told reporters after holding a review meeting with the district administration.

Rao is heading a 9-member EC team to the state to review the preparedness for conducting polls in the state. The team had arrived at Patna on Tuesday.

He said the district administrations had been directed to complete the process of providing PIC to eligible voters by September 15.

The EC official said there would not be shortage of security forces for conducting free, fair and peaceful polls in the state particularly in the Naxalites-hit areas.

Sufficient number of security personnel will be deployed in the state particularly in the naxalite-hit areas so that voter can cast their vote without any fear Rao, legal advisor to the EC, added.

Following boycott calls given by the Naxalites, lower voting percentage in the areas under their influence have been witnessed in the past elections.

Rao also met district unit leaders of various parties.