Former MlA and CPI(M) nominee for the Nilgiri Assembly constituency this time Pradipta Panda strongly demanded that EVM system for electioneering be abolished.
In a Press briefing on Monday, he said that several advanced countries including the USA which had adopted the EVM for voting have done away with it owing to several factors. They have reverted to the ballot paper method once again, he said.
“First of all, the EVM’s foolproof efficiency is suspected and secondly, illiterate and semi-illiterate people can hardly understand its procedures. Since the elections were held simultaneously for th Parliament as well as Assemblies in Odisha this time, the voters were in confusion with regard to exercising their choices in the EVMs,” said Panda.
Most importantly, what is most worrying is the role of black money in the elections. Huge sums of money were spent in arranging feasts and giving presents in the villages. So much was the consumption of non veg food that there was massive scarcity of chicken and mutton in the market although in the month of Chaitra, there usually fall no auspicious ceremonies. The election observers did nothing to check these feasts. Therefore, money spent on feasts went unaccounted.
Whenever the observers were called over phone, their numbers were switched off or not reachable. If the black money continues to flow during elections, candidates having hardly any money can never win elections. Hence, the election process should be reformed. The ballot paper should be reintroduced and the expenditure on feasts should also be accounted, Panda said.