RK Nagar bypoll: Returning officer appointed; new voters can get their IDs

Chennai: A day after the Election Commission of India announced the bypoll date for R K Nagar, Chennai corporation commissioner and district election officer D. Karthikeyan on Friday appointed Padmaja Devi as the returning officer for the constituency bypoll.

A statement from Ripon Buildings said that the DEO has appointed T. N. Padmaja Devi, joint director, directorate of Adi Dravidar and tribal welfare as the returning officer with effect from Friday. The RO will discharge her duties from the corporation's zonal office in Thiruvottiyur. The commissioner also appointed assistant returning officers and electoral registration officer for the by poll. The corporation officials on poll duty also conducted a meeting to discuss the poll arrangements.

Meanwhile, the office of district election officer also urged the new voters in Chennai to collect their voter Ids from Arasu E- Sevai centres. In Chennai 82,666 numbers of new electors were included in the electoral roll. One time password (OTP) has been sent to the mobile number of these new electors. The electors can show the OTP at any E-Sevai centre and can obtain their Electoral Photo Identity Card (Epic) free of cost. Those who have not received OTP can produce their Aadhaar card or any other ID to obtain the Epic free of cost. Electors who have enrolled earlier can also obtain colour photo ID cards at the e-Centres after paying Rs 25, a release said.