Bhubaneswar: Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Nikunja Bihari Dhal has issued a stern appeal to voters, urging them to protect their privacy by refraining from sharing Aadhaar details and mobile phone numbers with political parties or candidates.
In a release issued on Tuesday, CEO Dhal expressed concern over reports of contesting candidates and political parties collecting photocopies of Aadhaar cards and personal mobile numbers from voters. Such practices, he emphasized, run counter to the principles of a free, fair, and impartial electoral process.
Dhal appealed to all political entities and candidates to desist from the collection of such personal data, emphasizing the importance of upholding the integrity of the electoral process. Additionally, he called upon voters to exercise caution and refrain from sharing their Aadhaar details and mobile phone numbers with any political party or candidate.