The Election Commission will now insist on voters compulsorily carry their photo identity card or the voter's slip in Andhra Pradesh.
The EC earlier used to allow several other cards like PAN Card as an identity card for the voters to cast their vote.
However, now that practice has been stopped as the state has achieved 100 per cent photo identity card distribution, Election Commissioner H. S. Brahma told reporters here today.
He held a meeting with state Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwar Lal and the officials over the preparations for the by-elections to one Lok Sabha and 18 Assembly constituencies scheduled to be held on June 12.
He said the EC conducted the polls with the Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) earlier in Kerala and Pondicherry and some other states. Observing that the Commission would take tough action on leaders who seek votes in the name of religion or caste, he said commenting on the religious practices of their rivals would also attract action.
This assumes significance as some TDP and Congress leaders alleged that Kadapa MP Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy hurt the religious sentiments by not signing the declaration meant for non-Hindus, when he visited Tirupati temple.
Regretting that Andhra Pradesh has become infamous for the huge money being used in the elections, Brahma, who is an Andhra Pradesh cadre IAS officer, said anyone can send complaints through SMS about any violation of the model code.
The mobile numbers, to which, the complaints have to be sent are: 8897000401, 8897000402, 8897000403, 8897000404, 8897000405. The identity of the sender will be kept confidential.