Gujarat makes voting in local polls mandatory

Amid protests by Congress, the legislative assembly in western Indian state of Gujarat ruled by BJP has passed a Bill seeking to make voting mandatory in elections to urban civic bodies and village panchayats.
The Gujarat Local Authorities Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2009 was passed by voice vote in the House, where BJP has a clear majority, on Saturday evening.
This is the first time in India that voting has been compulsory in elections at any level.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi said the Bill was not controversial and was aimed at making democracy truly participatory.