India
oi-Deepika S
Guwahati, Mar 05: Four prominent personalities of Assam, including cricketer and first-time voter Riyan Parag, were on Friday chosen as ”icons” to encourage people to exercise their franchise during the upcoming assembly polls, Chief Electoral Officer Nitin Khade said.
Besides Parag who plays for the team Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, actor Kopil Bora, singer Anindita Paul and para- cyclist Rakesh Banik were selected as ”icons” to motivate voters, the CEO said.
The official also unveiled two mascots, ”Bohag” and ”Bohagi”, and released a theme song as part of the Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP). Several infotainment initiatives will be undertaken to increase participation of people in the electoral process, he said at a press conference.
“The SVEEP target is to increase the voting percentage to more than 85 per cent, particularly in…