Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Voters cast doubts on secrecy of ballot

MADURAI: Is it a secret ballot? Or is there a camera filming the voters as they press the button in the EVMs against the candidate of their choice? This is the question lingering in the minds of many rural voters, especially women, in Thirumangalam Assembly constituency.

“Is it true that a camera will expose whom we vote for?” asks a member of a self-help group in S. Gopalapuram. Women of Eliyarpathy and Kandai in the constituency have similar doubts and try to clear these with journalists.

“They (party cadres) have warned us they will know who we are voting for through a (video) camera,” says one of them.

Their suspicion is rooted in “friendly warnings” given by political functionaries, who bribe voters and then claim they have a way of finding out any shift in allegiance.

Many have accepted money from more than one party.

Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam founder Vijayakant and All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi leader Sarath Kumar have asked people to happily accept the money, but vote for their party.

Mr. Vijayakant’s appeal to voters, “Note ungalukku, vote engalukku” (Let the currency note be yours, and the vote come to our party) is met with loud applause.

The DMDK leader has also alleged that Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam cadres are forcing voters to make promises on paddy and milk and in the name of Mariamman that they will not cheat.

In some cases, the ruling party men have cautioned the people that a camera placed in the voting booths will reveal as to whom the bribe-receivers voted for.

“It is a white lie. No one can know whom you voted for. Because there is no camera there,” says Mr. Vijayakant in an effort to educate the voters.

Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader Vaiko is also urging people not to fear the ruling party and to vote for the AIADMK, assuring them there is no camera to keep a watch on them.

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