New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) is set to appoint cricketing legend and Bharat Ratna Sachin Tendulkar as its ‘national icon’ Wednesday, continuing with its tradition to engage public figures in enhancing voter awareness about polls.
In an event in Delhi, the poll body will sign a three-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Tendulkar in the presence of Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioners Anup Chandra Pandey and Arun Goel.
The ECI said in a statement: “This collaboration would mark a significant step towards leveraging Tendulkar’s unparalleled impact with the youth demographic for increasing voters’ participation in the forthcoming elections, especially in General Elections 2024.”
The purpose of appointing a national icon, according to the ECI, is to minimise the gap between citizens and the election process. “ECI through this partnership aims to bridge the gap between citizens, especially youth and urban populations and the electoral process thereby, trying to address the challenges of urban and youth apathy.”
The Commission often collaborates with renowned Indians and designates them as its ‘national icons’, thereby harnessing their popularity to motivate voters. In 2022, the commission nominated Bollywood actor Pankaj Tripathi as the icon.
As the ECI’s next face, Sachin Tendulkar finds himself in the company of former Indian President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, former Indian cricket team captain M.S. Dhoni, actor Aamir Khan and former boxing world champion Mary Kom. Dr Kalam was the ECI’s first ‘national icon’ in 2010.
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