With merchandise, EC calls for voters' Caesar moment

Kolkata: The Election Commission (EC) has released merchandise with the catchline 'Veni, Vidi, Vote' — an improvisation on Julius Caesar's "Veni, Vidi, Vici" — urging people to be a proud voter in the world's biggest democratic exercise.

"Veni, Vidi, Vici" is a Latin phrase which means "I came, I saw, I conquered".

Caesar had used these words in a letter to the Roman Senate after easily winning a war.

"To spread awareness about voting, the Election Commission has sent some merchandise such as key chains and badges which will be distributed among voters before the elections," Additional Chief Electoral Officer Sanjay Basu told reporters here on Friday.

The quirky merchandise, includes bags, coasters, mugs, caps and T-shirts with slogans like 'Ready to vote, proud to be a voter' and 'Let's get inked'.

"We are also planning to use Bangla phrases in some of these items for West Bengal," Basu said. Basu also informed about the awareness initiatives undertaken by District Electoral Officers across the state.

'Somanubhuti Jatra' (Journey of Equality) is a bus with election-related information moving around East Burdwan district.

"This bus has been launched under Awareness on Wheels to answer the election-related queries and encourage people with disabilities to cast their vote," he said.