Karnataka for use of ballot papers in local body polls

The Congress government in Karnataka has decided to recommend to the State Election Commission (SEC) to hold all future panchayat and urban local body polls in the state using ballot papers instead of electronic voting machines (EVMs).

Defending the decision on Friday, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the recommendation was “based on experience”.

“Based on our experience, we have decided that ballot papers should be used. There are examples where several countries have returned to ballot papers from EVMs,” Siddaramaiah told reporters here on Friday.

While briefing about the Cabinet decision on Thursday, state Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil had cited erosion of confidence and credibility among people towards EVMs as the reason for the decision.

The Cabinet has also decided to authorise the SEC to “prepare, revise, and, if necessary, redo” the voters’ list for local body polls, citing discrepancies in electoral rolls and allegations of “vote theft”.

Taking a swipe at the Congress government in Karnataka, the opposition BJP on Friday claimed the state Cabinet’s decision amounted to “self-certifying” that the ruling party came to power through “vote theft”.

Urging the 136 Congress MLAs elected in the 2023 Assembly polls and the nine Congress MPs from the state to resign first, state BJP president BY Vijayendra said, “Let them win the elections again using the ballot papers, or accept that they came to power through vote theft.”

Hitting back, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar questioned why the BJP was worried.

“It is the decision of the Karnataka Government, why is the BJP worried? The government can hold local body polls, there are provisions in law, which were enacted during their (BJP) tenure, saying that either ballots or EVMs (can be used). Our government has decided to use ballot papers during the local body polls. Why are you (BJP) horrified?” he said while speaking to reporters here.

Noting that the decision of the state government regarding ballot paper was for local body polls, he said the Central Election Commission would decide for the Assembly and parliamentary polls.