Vote is a powerful instrument in the hands of people: AP Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan

• AP Governor launched 11th National Voters Day celebrations at a programme held in Raj Bhavan

Vijayawada, January 25: Speaking at the launch of 11th National Voters Day celebrations Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan said that the vote is not just a right to be exercised mechanically as and when elections are held but it is a powerful instrument in the hands of people and exercise of the right to vote makes people sentinels of the noble tradition of democracy.

Speaking at the programme held at Durbar Hall in Raj Bhavan on Monday, Governor Harichandan further said the Right to Vote is the mother of all political rights provided under the Constitution and said every citizen of the country, including youth, should feel proud of performing their respective constitutional duties as this will ensure their meaningful participation and significant contribution to the growth of the Nation and the Society. New and young voters should come forward and actively participate in the celebration of our democracy and actual participation and exercise of right to vote would empower and enable the youth to contribute for the welfare of the society, said Governor Harichandan.

In a democracy, voters are not subject to any pressure or fear and they are free to choose the candidate of their choice and advised the youth to come forward and registered themselves as voters once they become eligible, said the Governor. K. Vijayanand, Chief Electoral Officer said the 11th National Voters’ Day is being celebrated all over the country with the theme of “Making our Voters Empowered, Vigilant, Safe and Informed”  and the National Voters' Day is celebrated on 25th January, the day on which Election Commission of India (ECI) was constituted in the year 1950. The CEO said that the final Electoral Roll of Andhra Pradesh was published on 15th January 2021.

Earlier, Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan presented awards to V. Vinay Chand, Collector, Visakhapatnam, Dr M. Hari Jawahar Lal, Collector, Vizianagaram, Dr Pola Bhaskar, Collector, Prakasam, P. Balakrishnamacharyulu, Secretary, A.P. Legislature Secretariat, V. Vijaya Rama Raju, VC & MD, AP Medical Services & Infrastructure development corporation, Medida Jahnavi, Sub Collector, Madanapalle, K. Bala Tripura Sundari, SDC, KRRC, Vizianagaram, M. Viswaswara Naidu, SDC, KRRC, Anantapur, Chaitanya Bharati, Project Manager in the office of Chief Electoral Officer, for better performance in enrolling more number of voters.

Mukesh Kumar Meena, Secretary to Governor, A.Md. Imtiaz, Collector, Krishna and other officers have attended the programme.