Ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti is ready for using ballot papers in the byelection to Palair Assembly constituency scheduled on May 16. This was revealed by Municipal minister and Palair TRS in-charge KT Ramarao.
This in response to the Telangana Congress’ campaign for using Voters Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) along with the EVMs or using ballot papers in the elections. The party launched the campaign following the rout in Warangal Lok Sabha byelection and GHMC polls. Congress suspects some foul play in the form of tampering with EVMs. The party’s argument is that unless such a tampering is committed, there was no possibility for a complete one-side elections as was witnessed in these places in which Congress, despite its robust presence, forfeited deposit.
State Congress chief N Uttamkumar Reddy met Nasim Ziaid, chief of election commission,in New Delhi, and presented a memorandum demanding the deployment of VVPAT or ballot papers in the elections. Congress is hopeful of some positive outcome because it was after its representation about the misleading reports submitted by Khammam district collector and superintendent of Police helping the TRS held its plenary that EC took decision to shift the collector and SP. Though TRS is unsure of the EC’s decision on ballot papers, Congress is confident of positive outcome.
Against this background that KT Ramarao said he would welcome if EC wants to use ballot papers in the Palair elections. He said in the meeting of party workers that the TRS was not opposed to the demand made by Congress for the use of ballot paper. Dismissing the allegations of Congress party that the ruling party was tampering with the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) KTR said there was no truth in the allegations .
He said he himself would appeal to the Election Commission of India to conduct Palair by-polls using ballot papers. Not machines, but the trust people reposed in TRS was force behind the thumping majority the ruling party had been getting in all elections, he said. He remarked it was unfortunate that Congress had not been able to learn lessons from history.
