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Round
The States
New Delhi, 27 April
2019
Faulty EVMS
POL PARTIES CLAIMS Vs EC
By Insaf
Other than the
voters, it is the EVMs that the political parties keep a close watch on. With
the third phase of polling, in 117 constituencies across 13 States and two UTs
on Tuesday last, Nirvachan Sadan and its team had to deal with complaints of
faulty electronic voting machines from several polling booths in UP, Kerala,
Bihar, Goa, Bihar etc. Same old story, some would say, but for the candidate and
party it’s a do or die fight. There were reports of problems with VVPAT too. In
Kerala specially, faulty EVMs interrupted polling in over 30 booths with CM
Vijayan complaining that the EC officials have “not taken serious efforts to
ensure accuracy.” In UP, the number was higher,
but EC said it was only 3%. And these were repaired or replaced. However, SP
chief Akhilesh Yadav tweeted whether there was something “sinister” behind the
malfunctioning across India or was it voting for the BJP.” Oft heard and non-BJP
parties would take their pot shots. But on a serious note the EC needs to consider
this tweet: “DMs say poll officials untrained to operate EVMs. 350+ being
replaced. This is criminal negligence for a polling exercise that costs Rs
50,000 crore.” Not too much for the biggest election exercise in the world? Pittance
compared to scams too!
* * * * * * *
Karnataka
Record Crowd
Karnataka polling has
left pollsters and party leaders wondering. With ballot boxes sealed on Tuesday
last finally, the first phase was on April 18, the State recorded its highest
ever turnout of 68.62%. Obviously, signalling that stakes for the ruling Congress-Janata
Dal (S) alliance and the BJP were high-- vying for a larger piece of the cake for
the 28 Lok Sabha seats. In 2014 elections the saffronites had won over half the
seats and are confident of doing one better. Analysis shows the turnout saw 1.42%
increase over last poll’s 67.20% and beat 1999 record turnout of 67.58%.
Expectedly, high profile constituencies saw a higher turnout than others. These
include Mandya with Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil in fray or in Tumakuru
and Hassan, with former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and another grandson
Prajwal contesting or Shivamogga, where sons of former CM Yeddyurappa and B
Bangarappa were pitched. But the Capital city, Bengaluru was not enthusiastic
with turnout less by around 2%. What conclusion can be drawn? The two warring
sides shy from saying it goes in their favour, instead give credit to
campaigning and better voter awareness. Perhaps, this time round the rivals
prefer to wait and watch. Get your numbers right and then plan the ever so familiar
cross-over.
* * * * * * *
Telangana
Suicides
Students’ suicides
send shock waves in Telangana. Till Wednesday last 19 students had ended their
lives for failing the Telangana State Board of Intermediate Examination. This
has forced a concerned Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao to order
re-verification of answer scripts of the 300,000-odd unsuccessful candidates ‘free
of cost.’ Besides, officials have been asked to complete the process at the
earliest to ensure that students didn’t lose an academic year. Apparently,
students suspect major lapses as large-scale irregularities have been noticed
in the mark sheets. Shockingly, many students, who had scored over 90% in the 1st
exam have failed the 2nd year test and worse complaints of students
getting zero or one or two marks in various subjects has put officials in a
tizzy. Of the total 4,09,133 students appearing in 1st year exam
only 2,47,407 passed and likewise in 2nd year of the 3,82,534
students, only 2,47,755 were cleared! The suicides have had the High Court step
in too, directing the Board to re-evaluate answer scripts. Rather the system
must be overhauled. Sooner the better, lest protests get louder and students
suffer.
* * * * * * *
Delhi’s
Big Fight
Speculation over Delhi’s
all seven seats is over. The Capital is gearing for a high-pitched three-corner
contest again. Both Congress and AAP’s hopes of fighting the mighty BJP
together by combining their vote share have gone awry and each candidate has filed
nominations. Congress, BJP have retained most of their heavyweights, but opted
for new faces in two seats, the AAP has all fresh candidates. The BJP, winning all
7 seats in 2014 appears not to be super confident and has chosen ex-cricketer
Gautam Gambhir and Punjabi singer Hans Raj Hans dethroning two sitting MPs. The
Congress, which has former CM Sheila Dikshit heading the team of old timers
Ajay Maken, JP Agarwal, has inducted boxer Vijendra Singh, seeking resurrection
after its decimation in the LS and Assembly polls. The AAP, which is ruling the
roost in Delhi Assembly, hopes the new team, Atishi, the face behind the
reformation of government schools, Raghav Chadha, youngest spokesperson and a
familiar face on TV debates, lawyer Balbir Singh Jakhar and convenor traders
wing, Brijesh Goyal can make a decent beginning. But the big fight seems to be
between the Congress and the BJP. The latter will find it tougher this time, as
the formidable trading community is upset with the BJP and its two new faces
are against household names. The Congress may not be wrong of springing
surprises.
* * * * * * *
Jharkhand’s
Choice
Better life takes
precedence over the fight against corruption in Jharkhand. Political parties
should pay heed to what a survey by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR)
reveals. Clearly, the voters want employment, better health services and law
and order, rather than cleaning up the system. The survey which covered 7,000-odd
respondents across 14 parliamentary constituencies shows that 47.08% said better
employment opportunities were their top priority this election; 40.08% voters
opted for better hospitals and primary healthcare centres as second priority
and third came policing and law and order among 34.51% voters. Sadly, the
Government’s performance on all three counts was rated as ‘below average!’ In
the two categorised sections-- rural and urban voters’ priorities, interestingly,
while the former said jobs, the urbanite wanted law and order. Surprisingly, the
issue of corruption had no takers among rural voters, while the issue was least
prioritised –17% among urban voters. But what is most heartening is that over
2-3rd of voters said they were not influenced by the candidates’
gifts or cash. Their own opinion mattered most while casting their vote in that
ballot box. Are politicians listening?
* * * * * * *
Bihar’s
Student Outreach
The contest in
Begusarai, Bihar is one which should surely hold keen interest for young
voters. With the CPI putting up young fire brand from Jawaharlal Nehru
University Kanhaiya Kumar, about 40 students and student leaders from the
University are campaigning and holding fort there. To counter this, rival RJD
candidate Tanveer Hassan has brought in students leaders from JNU, Jamial
Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University and even Delhi University. They
need to ensure a “back-up campaign’ where all Kanhaiya has been. Each side has
its team in place in the seven Assembly constituencies, with aggressive
door-to-door campaigning and distribution of pamphlets. The BJP’s Giriraj Singh
and his team are not worried about this “import” of students and content with
their party workers. Though they show confidence of not having any need to
deploy JNUites or DU students to counter Kanhaiya, the main rival who they say
is ‘over rated’, the young voter may just get them to change their mind. The
run up to the finale is definitely worth a watch. ---INFA
(Copyright, India
News & Feature Alliance)
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