As the Election Commission battles urban and youth apathy towards voting, cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar was on Wednesday appointed as a “national icon” of the poll panel to encourage greater voter participation in elections.
Tendulkar was made the national icon as the EC gears up to hold assembly polls in five states sometime in October or November and Lok Sabha elections in 2024. A memorandum of understanding was signed between Tendulkar and the poll panel. As part of the three-year agreement, the cricketer will spread voter awareness.
Addressing the gathering, Tendulkar said India is the biggest democracy in the world, and it is our prime responsibility to exercise our voting rights.
He reminded the gathering that he had said that in his second innings, he would continue to bat for India. Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey said the “pitch” on which the EC plays to encourage voters to come out and exercise their franchise is “tough”. But he expressed confidence that Tendulkar would come out with flying colours.
Election Commissioner Arun Goel said voter turnout was at its maximum at 67 percent in the 2019 LS polls.