Tiger census can wait till polls are over: CPI

Communist Party of India (CPI) State secretary Binoy Viswam has written to the State Election Commission and the Head of the State Forest Force, urging them to reschedule the tiger census until the local body polls are over. The tiger population estimation exercise, for which some 3,000 forest officials have been deployed, is scheduled to end on December 8, which will make it difficult for these officials to return from deep jungles to cast their votes on December 9, when the first phase of polling is conducted.  

“Tigers aren’t going anywhere in a day or two. Therefore, it’s only logical and in keeping with democratic ethos that the census be deferred,” Mr. Viswam argued.