In shaadi season, EC asks for ‘matdan’ along with kanyadaan

BHOPAL

: Whether it’s ‘Satish weds Gudiya’ or ‘Nilesh weds Priyanka’, wedding cards in Betul have one thing in common: an invitation to join the election party.

The district election officer of Betul has approached local printers to add the message ‘Matdan Awashya Karein (Make sure you vote)’ on all marriage cards they print till May 6.

“We had issued appeals to printing presses three days ago. So far, eight to nine families have got the message printed on their wedding cards, and this is only in one tehsil, Aathner. We are yet to receive information from other tehsils,” Betul collector Tarun Pithode told TOI.

There are 10 tehsils in Betul parliamentary constituency and 75 printers. Sources told TOI that 20 wedding cards already have the message.

It’s not compulsory, Pithode explained. “We have simply made an appeal. If the groom or bride or their family members don’t agree, then it should not be printed. But the response is very encouraging. It’s marriage season and we are hopeful that the message will remind people about voting,” the DEO added.

Officials have found that each wedding family prints and distributes 200-500 cards. It’s a large voter base to tap. “It’s the happy season. We hope that when they look at a card for the party date, they will notice the voting date too,” said an official.

Betul is an ST-reserved seat, and goes to the polls on May 6, along with Tikamgarh, Damoh, Khajuraho, Satna, Rewa and Hoshangabad. Nominations for this round can be filed till April 18.

BJP has fielded RSS leader Durga Das Uike as its candidate and Congress has given the ticket to youth leader Ramu Tekam. Both are new faces as BJP has replaced its two-time MP Jyoti Dhurve because her caste certificate was found to be incorrect, and Congress has picked the 32-year-old Tekam over Ajay Shah Makrai this time.