"The Congress opposition to proxy vote for our armed forces and paramilitary personnel is a strange way of expressing solidarity and support for the men and officers who are posted in far-flung areas to safeguard our frontiers and fight intruders and insurgents," Malhotra said the Commission had suggested replacing the postal ballot for service electors with proxy vote at a meeting with political parties and held extensive discussions with appropriate authorities of the armed forces before making the suggestion.The Chief Election Commissioner M SGill had even suggested that if all the parties agreed to the suggestion, he could ask the President to promulgate an ordinance but Congress and the Left parties opposed the move, Malhotra said.

Earlier, he said, even when there was a gap of one month between the last date of withdrawal of nomination papers and the polling date, barely a fraction of the service electors could exercise their franchise.

But now, when this period had been reduced to 14 days, their chances of casting their votes had further dwindled, he said adding that "it would be tantamount to depriving our service personnel of the right to exercise their franchise".

He said the law minister had also written to all political parties to consider and accept the suggestion of the Election Commission. Whereas millions of government servants would be able to exercise their right to vote in the forthcoming Lok Sabha and state assembly elections, Malhotra said it would be highly improper to deprive the armed forces, posted at the borders andother far flung areas, of the right to vote.

Stressing that equity and justice should take precedence over partisan considerations, Malhotra said Congress opposition to proxy voting would deprive over 35 lakh such personnel of the right to vote.