Puducherry: To avoid confusion during by-poll, banks to ink right hand index finger

The district election authorities, on 17 November, have asked banks and post offices in Puducherry to ensure that they apply indelible ink on the right hand index finger of those seeking to exchange the scrapped currency notes. This decision was taken to avoid any confusion during the by-poll to the Nellithope Assembly segment, said District Election Officer, Satyendra Singh Dursawat.

If the ink is applied on the left hand index finger of the customers, and when they turn up at the polling booths to cast their vote, it might be mistaken for the one applied already at the booths.

As a result, genuine voters will be deprived of their right to vote, he said.

The Election Commission has mandated that voters of Nellithope constituency should get their left hand index finger marked with indelible ink while exercising their franchise on 19 November.

Voters should also make it clear to the bank staff that the ink mark should be applied on their right hand index finger as they were to vote in the by-election, he added.

--PTI