DMK seeks legal amendments for use of EVMs in local body polls

Opposition DMK today petitioned Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah, seeking legal amendments to various legislations, including Tamil Nadu Panchayat Act, 1994 to ensure that Electronic Voting Machines are used in election to all rural posts in the upcoming local body polls.
The party said while EVMs were being used for urban local bodies, only ballot papers of different colours were being used for rural bodies, which it termed as "improper".
"Use of ballot papers still is improper, even when EVMs are used by Election Commission of India in the rural areas for Assembly and Parliamentary elections," DMK's Organisation Secretary, R S Bharathi said in his representation to Rosaiah.

Upgrading to EVMs would reduce cost and also save time during casting of votes and their counting, he pointed out.
He requested the Governor to bring necessary amendments in different legislations, including Tamil Nadu Panchayat Act, 1994, and bring it on par with Section 43-D of District Municipalities Act, 1920 and others for the "compulsory usage of secured Electronic Voting Machines to all posts of Rural Local Bodies," in the upcoming elections.
The party made similar pleas with the Law and Rural Development Secretaries of the state government also.
DMK, which had lost the May 16 Assembly polls to arch rival AIADMK, also pleaded with the Governor for appointing independent outstation observers to each district during the local body polls.