Ranchi, Mar 12 (IANS): The Election Commission on Tuesday asked telecom service operators in Jharkhand to ensure mobile and internet connectivity at all the polling booths during the coming Lok Sabha polls.

The direction was made at a meeting of election officials and representatives of telecom service operators, chaired by Additional Chief Electoral officer Vinay Kumar Choubey and Additional Election Commissioner-cum-Joint Secretary, Cabinet (Election) Department Shekhar Jamuwar.

"In the meeting, the mobile service providers were asked to provide internet facilities in all polling booths specially those falling in the shadow areas so that direct contact is maintained and any problem that may arise at any particular centre can be tackled," an official statement said.

"In case of any problem of internet connectivity in the shadow area, it should be immediately rectified."

In a related development, Chief Electoral Officer L Khiyangate has directed all the district electoral officers to ensure that the model code of conduct, which came into place after announcement of the poll schedule on Sunday, is implemented effectively.

Elections to Jharkhand's 14 Lok Sabha seats will be held in the final four phases - on April 29, May 6, 12, and 19 - of the seven phase Lok Sabha elections.