Gill justifies use of EVMs

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MARCH 31. The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Dr. M.S. Gill, today announced that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be used in all the constituencies in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal and Pondicherry and four constituencies in Assam during the May 10 Assembly polls.

Addressing a press conference, Dr. Gill said that in Tamil Nadu, the AIADMK general secretary, Ms. Jayalalitha, had challenged in the Madras High Court the use of EVMs and ``we have explained our point of view. Though the court had reserved orders, we are going ahead with the use of EVMs in Tamil Nadu also''.

Justifying the use of EVMs, he said that based on positive experience, the Commission took up with the Union Government the regular expansion of EVMs in the country. The Centre sanctioned Rs. 150 crores in the current financial year under which the Bharat Electronics Ltd. and the ECIL manufactured about 1.34 lakh EVMs for use in the Assembly polls.

Dispelling the apprehensions of some political parties in Tamil Nadu on the possible misuse of the EVMs, the CEC said clear instructions had been sent to all Chief Electoral Officers on the use, storage and safety of the machines.

A massive training and awareness programme had been launched and each EVM should be properly accounted for. ``It will be like taking out currency from the Reserve Bank of India.''

Dr. Gill said the EVMs would be moved out of storage locations for various legitimate use such as training, demonstration and preparation before the election and later for actual poll and counting. The use of the machines should be properly controlled through appropriate challans, duly counter- signed by the District Electoral Officer and the CEO.

After the poll, the EVMs would be sealed and kept in safe custody in the strong room and a similar procedure of documentation would be followed before counting.

Dr. Gill said the CEOs would be personally responsible for the overall arrangements. The CEOs have been directed to send by April 4 a report on the detailed arrangements and instructions issued by them as well as the status of the implementation.

13.40-crore electors

A total of 13.40-crore electors are expected to exercise their franchise in the Assembly elections.

According to the Election Commission figures, Tamil Nadu has an electorate of 4,74,16,976 (males, 2,38,29,449 and females, 2,35,87,527); Assam: 1,44,26,221 (males, 75,27,057 and females, 68,99,164); Kerala: 2,28,16,175 (males 1,11,48,629 and females, 1,16,67,546); West Bengal: 4,86,90,870 (males, 2,53,64,468 and females, 2,33,26,402) and Pondicherry: 6,55,961 (males, 3,28,918 and females, 3,27,043).

The elections will cover 824 constituencies, which includes 660 general; 127 reserved for SC and 37 for ST. The break-up for each State is 126 in Assam; 140 in Kerala; 234 in Tamil Nadu; 294 in West Bengal and 30 in Pondicherry. As per the provisional arrangement, polling will be conducted in 1,48,815 booths, 17,654 in Assam; 23,001 in Kerala; 45,844 in Tamil Nadu; 61,538 in West Bengal and 778 in Pondicherry.

Candidates will have only 14 days for canvassing from the date of scrutiny of the nominations on April 24 and just 12 days after the publication of the final list of candidates contesting the polls.

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