Just a couple of days after polls, Chandrababu Naidu raises questions over EVMs; asks Election Commission to revert to ballot system
N Chandrababu Naidu
Andhra Pradesh chief minister and Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naiduon Saturday demanded the Election Commission of India (ECI) revert to the ballot system. The move comesjust a couple of days after the general pollswere conducted for 91 Lok Sabha seats on Thursday, along with state assembly elections including in Andhra Pradesh.
Naidu raised questions over the efficacy of the electronic voting machines (EVM) and said that going back to the paper system should be done immediately to "preserve the sanctity and protect the spirit of the electoral process and democracy."
The TDP supremo met officials of the ECI earlier today over the issue of EVM malfunctioning in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.
"We demand the Election Commission of India for reverting to paper ballot system immediately to preserve the sanctity and protect the spirit of electoral process and democracy respectively," Naidu said in a letter written to the Chief Election Commissioner.
"I wish to bring to your notice a series of malafide actions of Election Commission of India in managing the election process in Andhra Pradesh that gave rise to serious doubts that the constitutional duties of this great institution are not performed with objectivity, impartiality and, professionalism," he said.
Naidu also claimed that there was inadequate police force at the polling booths despite the request made by the Andhra Pradesh Police Department.
"To aggravate the matters further, the inadequate security arrangements at polling booths, emboldened the criminal elements that resulted in many law and order incidents which resulted in not only loss of lives and injuries but also terrorized the peace-loving voters to come out freely and vote," the Chief Minister said.
Naidu alleged the government of India of "interfering through the ECI".
"We have complained against EVMs earlier also. The EC is an autonomous body but they are working at the instructions of Modi. The transfer of officers in Andhra Pradesh are unjustified."
On April 11, all 25 Lok Sabha seats went to polls in Andhra Pradesh, whereas the state also voted for its 175 Assembly seats. Naidu had requested the EC for an extension of polling time in the state after polling in a few districts of Andhra Pradesh was disrupted briefly due to malfunctioning of EVMs.