The possible spread of EVM infection cannot be excluded, said JP Dhanopia. (Representative)
Bhopal:
Fearing the spread of COVID-19 via electronic voting machines (EVMs), the Congress of Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday demanded that the next by-passes for 24 seats in the State Assembly be made using ballots.
Derogations for 24 seats in the Assembly were made necessary following the resignation of 22 congressmen and the death of two other legislators. However, the dates of the same have yet to be announced.
State Congress on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Madhya Pradesh, said state congressional chief JP Dhanopia, who is in charge of electoral affairs.
“On average, 1,000 to 1,200 citizens voted in each polling booth. Voters will therefore have to press the EVM buttons repeatedly. With the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the state, the possible spread of EVM infection cannot be excluded, “he said.
The head of Congress further stated that the unity of the state party had demanded the use of ballots for the by-elections.
In addition, Mr. Dhanopia said that the State Congress had also submitted another memorandum to the EC requesting information on the elections to two of the 24 seats Jaura and Agar Malwa where the legislators in office died.
The seat of the Jaura Assembly has been vacant since December 21, 2019, while the seat of Agar Malwa became vacant on January 31, he said.
In accordance with the provisions of the Representation of the People Act 1951, elections for vacant seats should take place within six months, which ends in July for these two seats, he said.
“As the six-month deadline will end in July, we have requested official information from the EC on the state of the elections for these two seats,” he said.
In addition to the deaths of two sitting lawmakers, 22 congressmen had resigned, leading to the downfall of Kamal Nath’s government in March this year.
These deputies then joined the BJP with former Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.
With the Assembly’s effective staff at 206, the BJP currently has a majority of 107 deputies.
The BJP will need to win at least nine of these 24 seats to obtain a simple majority at home.
The current membership of the Congress is 92, while there are four independent deputies and one from the SP.
