Gurugram Administration Ropes in Yuzvendra Chahal to Boost Voter Turnout

As the Lok Sabha elections in Gurugram, scheduled for May 25, draw near, the district administration has taken a unique approach to encourage voter participation. In a bid to attract the attention of the electorate, particularly the youth, the authorities have roped in India cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal, as well as popular singers MD Desi Rockstar and Naveen Punia, as brand ambassadors.

Chahal’s Appeal to Young Voters

Yuzvendra Chahal, the ace leg-spinner currently playing for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL), will soon be making an appeal to the voters of Gurugram to actively participate in the polling process. Hitesh Kumar Meena, ADC and nodal officer for the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme, highlighted the large number of young voters in the district, many of whom are fans of Chahal.

Engaging the Masses with Music

Prior to enlisting Chahal’s support, the district administration had already roped in ‘desi rockstar’ MD and singer Naveen Punia as brand ambassadors to woo the voters of Gurugram. These popular musicians are expected to leverage their influence and connect with the masses through their art, encouraging them to exercise their democratic right.

Innovative App to Streamline Voting Process

In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the administration has launched an app called “Voter In Queue” to help voters find out their position in the polling queue and determine how long it will take for their turn to vote. Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav explained that on May 25, voters’ queues at 367 polling booths in Gurgaon, 250 booths in Pataudi, and 455 booths in Badshahpur can be viewed through the app, which has been approved by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for experimental use.

Voters can enter their area, polling booth, and voter ID in the app to receive an OTP, which will enable them to directly connect with the booth level officer (BLO). The BLO will update the app every 30 minutes to an hour, indicating the number of people present in the queue to vote.

Additional Initiatives to Encourage Voter Participation

To further facilitate the voting process, voting centers have been set up in common areas of high-rise buildings in Gurgaon. Additionally, Haryana Chief Secretary TVSN Prasad has inaugurated a Voters’ Park at Vikas Sadan. Officials have also ensured that messages from the District Election Officer and DC Yadav are being broadcast in multiplexes across the city.

As the Lok Sabha elections in Gurugram approach, the district administration’s innovative strategies and celebrity collaborations aim to engage voters, especially the younger generation, and encourage them to exercise their democratic right to vote.