Notwithstanding the air of uncertainty over conduct of elections to the urban local bodies on time, the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation on Monday convened a meeting with representatives of all political parties to elicit their views on various issues connected with elections.

Representatives of the Congress, the CPI(M), the CPI, the TDP, the BJP and the PRP attended the meeting and raised questions mainly about preparation of voters' list, including about enrolment, e-enrolment, additions, deletions, corrections and changes of voters' names and addresses.

Municipal Commissioner G. Ravi Babu, who is the designated Additional Election Authority for the VMC, clarified that there was no communication from the State Election Commission about when election notification would be issued. But the VMC initiated pre-election exercise adhering to the Commission's orders. Reservation of divisions for backward classes would also be done as per the laid down rules.

Mr. Ravi Babu made it clear that submission of applications in bulk for enrolment of voters would not be entertained. However, a single person could file applications on behalf of all his family members. Applications (for new registration, addition, deletion and so on) would be accepted till the issuing of election notification. Voters could also apply for migration from one polling station to another, apart from new registration. They would have to produce proof of residence, such as passbook of post office account, bank account or kisan pass book; or ration card; driving licence; passport; gas connection document; telephone or electricity bill; or water bill or property tax receipt. Applications would not be disposed of in a piecemeal way, but only at once.

Photo ID cards

Referring to photo identity cards, Mr. Ravi Babu said that as many as 50,000 photo identity cards needed to be rectified in respect of name, address, photos and other details. This exercise would be taken up in September. The e-enrolment procedure would be in vogue and photos would be collected from applicant at the time of verification.

Speaking about age and residence proof, Mr. Ravi Babu assured the representatives of political parties that the parents' affidavit about age of a person was sufficient, if the applicant was an illiterate and had no proof of age. Similarly, those living in huts and not having a door number could provide nearest door number.

A. K. Ansari of the Congress, N. Ravindra Varma of the TDP, Sk. Nasar Vali, D. Sankar and D.D. Prakash of the CPI, Ch. Babu Rao, B. Satya Babu and K. Rammohan Rao of the CPI (M), B. Rammohan Rao, K. Ram Prasad and K. S. Armugam of the BJP, S. Balakrishna, Ch. Venkateswara Rao and B. Naveen Kumar of the Praja Rajyam attended the meeting.