New Delhi/UNI: In a bid to improve the electoral participation in the upcoming Five state assembly elections and the 2024 general elections, the Election Commission of India( ECI) on Thursday appointed actor Rajkummar Rao as its National Icon.

An MoU has been exchanged between Rajkumar Rao and the ECI in New Delhi in the presence of Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and other senior officials of ECI to create awareness among the voters especially the youth.

Speaking on this occasion, actor Rajkummar Rao thanked the ECI for recognizing him as a national icon.

"When people, especially the young, participate in the election process and play a pivotal role in forming the government, it is the best feeling." He urged the young voters to come forward to vote for the upcoming polls.

Addressing this occasion, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said, the ECI is set to start a special drive from tomorrow to update the details in the electoral rolls except in the five poll bound states of Rajasthan, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, and Mizoram.

Rajiv said the Commission is also planning to join hands with the Education Ministry to engrain the young people with the electoral process.

The Election Commission announced that Mizoram will vote on November 7, while Chhattisgarh, which has a 90-member assembly, will be held in two phases on November 7 and 17.

Madhya Pradesh and Telangana will go to the polls on 17 and 30 November, respectively.

While Rajasthan, which was earlier scheduled to go to polls on November 23, will now go to polls on November 25. The votes will be counted on 3 December.

In August this year, the ECI recognised Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar as National Icon to promote voter awareness.