Dharmana for separate poll staff for ECI

Srikakulam: YSRCP regional coordinator and former minister Dharmana Prasada Rao stressed on the need of separate poll staff for Election Commission of India (ECI). Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, he opined that depending on state governments' staff for conducting elections is not good. He also explained that as a resultof dependency, ECI and CEO of state are unable to prepare even voterlists scientifically.

He found fault with preparation of voters' listswithout following due procedure. For migrated persons newlyadded voters' lists led to confusion in AP during recent elections, he said and suggested EC for detailed enumeration beforepreparing lists which was not done in AP.

Dharmana said that TDP president and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has been making unnecessary comments on functioning of EVMs . ``As part of technicaladvancement, EVMs were introduced and they are working well. But only Chandrababu is against the use of EVMs, he lamented.

He said thatChandrababu praised EVMs when he won the polls. When he is defeated, he is throwing blame on EVMs. For more transparency this time VVpats were introduced and Chandrababu also knew it well but making irresponsible comments against EVMs and EC,'' the YSRCP leader said.