AMN
The CPI(M) on Thursday opposed the Cabinet decision to approve proxy voting for NRIs and sought its withdrawal, saying the move would have serious consequences on free and fair elections and is likely to distort the results.
Party general secretary Sitaram Yechury told a press conference in New Delhi that this will be a wrong precedent as the NRIs delegating their voting right will have a serious consequence on free and fair polls. He suggested setting up of polling booths at Indian embassies and consulates across the world to enable NRIs to cast their vote.
He said, in most cases of a large number of Indians living and working in the Gulf, their passports are retained by agents, who can easily take over their proxy right to vote.
He opined, intimidation or monetary allurement or even to protect their jobs can affect proxy voting.
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday had cleared a proposal to extend proxy voting to overseas Indians by amending electoral laws.