Thiruvananthapuram: The state received four awards of the Election Commission of India for the smooth conduct of the 2016 Assembly elections. While Chief Electoral Officer E.K. Mahji received the award for best utilisation of information technology for the elections, Kerala State IT Mission won the award for the public sector undertaking that made valuable contribution for conducting the elections. IT Mission then director Mohammed Y. Safirulla will receive the award.
Former Kannur district collector P. Balakiran was selected for the award for making innovative initiatives for the elections and the then Kannur district police chief Hari Shankar for the maintenance of law and order in the district. It may be recalled that the chief electoral officer, with the support of Kerala State IT Mission, had launched a couple of mobile applications for the polls. In the case of Kannur, one of the most sensitive districts, the district administration and police ensured peaceful elections.
