Ballot papers to be used in 11 constituencies
The Telangana Rashtra Samiti’s strategy of forcing the Election Commission to revert to ballot papers instead of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the byelections is likely to pay off since a record number of 986 candidates filed nominations as independents till Friday, the last day.
Sixty-four is the maximum number of candidates’ names that a control unit of an EVM can handle using four ballot units, each with 16 on its display board. Normally, only one ballot unit is used, unless the number of candidates exceeds 16. The TRS has strongly been plumping for use of ballot papers instead of EVMs, which, it alleges, can be tampered with. The EC had rejected the TRS’ plea on Thursday asserting that the EVMs did not use an operating system and were standalone machines which could not be networked or tampered with.
On Friday, the TRS asked hundreds of supporters in 11 out of the 12 Assembly constituencies where it is contesting to file their papers, so much so that there were queues outside the offices of the respective returning officers.
Chief Electoral Officer I.V. Subba Rao told reporters after close of nominations that the EC had taken a “tentative decision” to use ballot papers for the polling on July 27.
Update : July 12th 2010
The option of deploying electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the ensuing Assembly byelections in the Telangana region became available to the Election Commission following the rejection of as many as 213 nomination papers of independents during scrutiny on Saturday.
As a result, the number of nominations in six out of the 12 constituencies fell below 64, the maximum number that can be handled by the EVMs.
The number of nominations in Nizamabad (Urban) constituency was below 64 even before this exercise was undertaken.
Consequently, EVMs are likely to be used in Nizamabad (14 nominations), Sirpur (55), Chennur-SC (60), Mancherial (49), Dharmapuri-SC (61), Vemulawada (42) and Siddipet (45).
In the remaining five constituencies, polling will be conducted with ballot papers as the number of nominations remained above 64 after scrutiny. They are Yellareddy (75), Koratla (68), Sircilla (79), Huzurabad (72) and Warangal West (93).
surya
Jul 12, 2010 @ 11:51:01
Not true. Ballot papers only in 3 constituencies. TRS is desperate is indicative in these attempts to wriggle out of a tight situation.
a telanganite
Jul 12, 2010 @ 12:02:21
Its not TRS but its the govt that is desperte to show TRS in bad light by defeting by resortingh to EVM tampering.If the govt is sincere let them go for only ballot.TRS want to cheat a cheater by cheating,becz the govt headed by treacherous seemandhras is not listening the ppls pulse.So change your statement ,that it is the state govt wants to wriggle out from a most difficult situation by indulging in tampering, an act which they exhibited by cancelling so many nominations on no solid grounds so as to bring the number of contestants with in EVM purview.
AbdulMuqtadir Syed
Jul 12, 2010 @ 15:25:22
@Surya, the doubts are due to the ‘necessity’ of DS’s win and the ‘importance’ of winning these elections by congress, as this party in general and DS in particular are desperate to win the election as it is win or die (political life only) for DS.
This is causing the doubts among the people nothing else.
surya
Jul 12, 2010 @ 17:12:01
@A Telanganite
Where is the Govt's insincereity in using EVM's. Even in the last election that TRS won 10 seats and 2 MP's EVM's were used. TRS did not complain then. Why raise the issue now. EVM's are used all over the country and you talk as if it is beeing used only for this election.Infact TRS will only confuse the voters by having so many independent candidates in the fray.
sree
Jul 12, 2010 @ 19:44:34
IT is imperative to use ballot papers instead of EVM’s. After all it’s man made electronic machine and we can do anything to make it work as per our choice. We all know, money rules the election proceedings and politicians will definately misuse the machines. I’ve seen recently on national tv channel, engineers demonstrating how these machines can be tampered. So in my point of view, TRS did the right thing by encouraging T people to file as many nominations as possible so that EC throws their EVM’s in dustbins. Congress is doing everything in it’s power to win atleast some seats and I really can’t see why not they stoop such low. Ofcourse they will. Thank god TRS is there tackle Congress, TDP’s low and dirty politics.
Someone is arguing why TRS is bothered. It’s not TRS.. BJP, TDP and many other regional and national parties parties have raised their concerns over EVM’s and Mind you TDP is just changed their voice over EVM only for this elections. So we all can see, something is cooking there. Congress and TDP are desperate to defeat TRS in this elections and I’m not surprised,TRS raising this concern.
No matter how hard they try, TRS is going to prevail. Congress and TDP are going bite the DUST..
Go KCR..GO TRS.. Jai Telangana..
surya
Jul 12, 2010 @ 22:06:05
@Syed
As usual you miss answering my query and beat around the bush.
- Did TRS complain or protest about EVM's
in 2009 elections .NO.
- Are EVM's being used for the first time . NO
- Will not voters get confused if there are 40-50 if not more contestants irrespective of whether EVM's are used or Ballot Paper.
surya
Jul 12, 2010 @ 22:10:56
@Syed
I wish to correct you. In these elections the congress has nothing to loose and everything to gain. All the 12 seats were held by TRS – 10 , TDP -1 and BJP -1 . If congress wins even one seat its a victory for them.
If TRS looses even 1 seat , or even if the no of votes or % age of votes polled is reduced , its a loss for them.
So its Do or Die for TRS. Logically.
Narender Singh
Jul 12, 2010 @ 22:39:02
I totally disagree with Mr. Surya – The situation is if congress does not get a single seat now, it is doomed for a CLEAN WASHOUT in the next elections GIVING SPACE TO T.R.S. and analysts have already come to a conclusion that T.R.S. is going to have in its kitty not less than 75 seats. WHAT ARE THOSE 75 SEATS IS KEPT A GUARDED SECRET BY A NEWS CHANNEL OWNED BY A WELL KNOWN SEEMAANDHRAITE WHO GOT CONDUCTED A SURVEY ON THE COMMITMENT AND DEDICATEDNESS OF TELANGANA VOTERS.
Narender Singh
Jul 12, 2010 @ 22:45:09
THE ISSUE OF TELANGANA BEING STALLED BY SEEMAANDHRAITES IN THE GUISE OF RESIGNATION DRAMA WILL NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY BY TELANGANITES.THIS HAS LEFT A SCAR WHICH CANNOT BE FILLED BY ANY MEANS OTHER THAN SEPARATE TELANGANA STATE
Yindoo
Jul 13, 2010 @ 16:03:50
@surya
#Did TRS complain or protest about EVM’s
in 2009 elections .NO
>A small party cannot undo big things. EVM's were a master stroke by the congress party who packed their cadres in the elections commission cell and have been able to push as much as they can and have been successful. Even BJP failed to undo EVMs. TRS had no chance.
#Are EVM’s being used for the first time. NO
>This does not prove anything. The duration of it's use does not authenticate it's genuineness.
#Will not voters get confused…
>Leave that headache to the voters. Fraud or not, you'll come to know once the riots start.
suryapreddy
Jul 14, 2010 @ 18:05:37
@surya
why many developed countries not using EVM's in the world ?
we got doubt after 2009 elections, so protesting now.
Congress couldnot won 2009 elections if it is Ballot Paper.
Ballot papers to be used in 11 constituencies | Simply Telangana | Trends Now
Jul 16, 2010 @ 12:45:52
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a telanganite
Jul 16, 2010 @ 22:05:45
ballot pprs to be used in 11 constituencies ! great victory to master strategician, KCR !!