EVM for Us, Paper for Them

The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) has hit upon an ingenious way to force the Election Commission to use ballot papers instead of electronic voting machines for the upcoming bypolls in Andhra Pradesh this month.

The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) has hit upon an ingenious way to force the Election Commission (EC) to use ballot papers instead of electronic voting machines (EVMs) for the upcoming bypolls in Andhra Pradesh this month.

The party has crammed the nomination lists with more than 400 dummy candidates in five of the 12 Assembly seats, forcing the EC to take a step back. The TRS has been campaigning against EVMs and has also accused the Congress of manipulating them to its advantage.

It is well known that current EVMs cannot handle more than 64 candidates for one seat. For more candidates, the EC would have to resort to paper ballots. The novel method of protest has raised enough eyebrows to warrant an emergency meeting between the EC and the Union Home Ministry, as they fear a repeat of these tactics in other areas too. By the last day for of withdrawal of nominations for the 27 July polls, the numbers had gone beyond 64 in five Assembly constituencies,  while the plan failed in four others. 

But, TRS leaders have allowed EVMs where it suits them. In three seats—two contested by TRS Chief K Chandrasekhara Rao’s son and nephew, and one in which they are supporting the BJP—they have ensured that there are no dummy candidates.

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Anil Budur Lulla