In a one-of-its-kind way, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has teamed up with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to use the Indian Premier League (IPL) platform to spread voter awareness for the Lok Sabha polls.
The poll watchdog has suggested that cricket players could deliver “motivational messages” in their speeches, and cheerleaders could wear ECI merchandise to witness large voter turnout.
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On March 22, Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Umesh Sinha wrote to BCCI CEO Rahul Johri regarding spreading voter awareness for the upcoming general election.
“It is requested that appropriate opportunity may be provided to the states, where matches are being held, to optimally utilise non-sponsored space to disseminate voter education messages. States are also being asked to identify a group of volunteers who shall be cheerleaders, wear ECI merchandise, and hold voter awareness messages/placards. We request you to kindly allow their entry in the stadium as well as ground during the break so that it can be displayed on camera,” wrote Sinha in his letter to BCCI.
The IPL’s 12th season started on March 23 and will go on till May 12.