Elections in Greater Bengaluru Authority will be held after May 25 using ballot papers, Karnataka State Election Commissioner G S Sangreshi said. Zilla and Taluk Panchayat polls later this year will also follow the ballot paper system in Karnataka
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Elections to the five city corporations under the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) will be held after May 25 with ballot papers instead of EVMs, Karnataka State Election Commissioner G S Sangreshi said on Monday.
The State Election Commissioner on Monday also said that Zilla and Taluk Panchayat polls, which are expected later this year, will also be held using ballot papers.
Sangreshi further added, "Elections will be held tentatively after May 25, after SSLC (class 10) and PUC (class 11 and 12) examinations are over, and before June 30," as per PTI.
The Supreme Court had last week asked the Karnataka government and the state election body to hold Bengaluru local body polls by June 30.
Speaking to the media in Bengaluru, the Commissioner said that this time the GBA election will be held using ballot papers.
He asserted, "There are two best practices to hold elections. Ballot papers have been used since the beginning, but since 20-30 years ago, EVMs have been used."
While defending the SEC’s decision to hold elections using ballot paper, he added, “The use of ballot papers is not barred by law or by the judgments of the Supreme Court," as cited by news agency PTI.
Congress recommended holding polls using ballot papers in Karnataka
Earlier in September, the Congress government had decided to recommend to the State Election Commission (SEC) to hold all the future panchayat and urban local body polls in the state using ballot paper instead of electronic voting machines. The state government claimed that there is an erosion of confidence and credibility among the people towards EVMs.
He also added, "However, last time the Bengaluru corporation polls in 2015 were held using EVMs," as per PTI.
Responding to a question whether the decision to use ballot papers was under the government's pressure, Karnataka State Election Commissioner G S Sangreshi said that SEC is an independent and constitutional body, and as law provides for elections to be held either using ballot papers or EVMs, the commission has the discretion to decide.
DK Shivakumar says, “The government will not interfere in the SEC’s decision”
Deputy CM D K Shivakumar also said the state election commission is an independent body, and the government will not interfere in their decision.
While addressing the media, the Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka said, "The BJP government itself earlier in the BBMP act enacted by them had provided an option for using ballot papers; we have continued it," as per PTI.
(With inputs from PTI)
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