The Gram Sabha of Kolewadi Gram Panchayat in Karad Tehsil in Satara has passed a resolution demanding that voting in all upcoming elections be done through stamped ballot papers instead of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). The decision comes amid growing suspicions about the reliability of EVMs.
On November 27, 2024, the Gram Panchayat administration called a Gram Sabha meeting through the Village Development Officer at Kolewadi. The meeting saw the participation of former Sarpanch Ratnamala Shankarrao Patil, former Gram Panchayat members, and local villagers. This move makes Kolewadi the first Gram Panchayat in the country to officially pass a resolution opposing the use of EVMs in elections.
The villagers presented a copy of the resolution and explained that while India follows a parliamentary democracy and elections are a constitutional process, doubts surrounding the EVM voting process have raised concerns. They pointed out that in the past, voting through ballot papers never attracted such doubts, but the current EVM system has been increasingly surrounded by suspicion.
Markadwadi row
This comes after Markadwadi village in Solapur district become the centre of a campaign against alleged electoral malpractices mounted by the MVA, which is blaming Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for its rout in the recent elections. Earlier this week, police registered a case against more than 200 persons from the village and nearby areas for allegedly trying to conduct a "re-election" using ballot papers in an unauthorised manner.
Despite the use of EVMs since 2004, the villagers question why the process has become so contentious and distrusted in recent years. They expressed concern over a growing frustration among voters, who have doubts about the ruling party, and the anti-incumbency sentiment. They believe this atmosphere of distrust could be dangerous for democracy.
The November 20 elections saw the Mahayuti alliance of the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP achieve a landslide victory by clinching 230 out of 288 assembly seats. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP), managed just 46 seats.
The opposition bloc has since claimed irregularities in the EVMs and demanded the use of ballot papers
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