Vote is the root of democracy: UP CEO

-    Exploiting voters in the name of caste and region endangers the integrity of the nation: Venkateswarlu
-    Urban Tahsildar exhorted students to create voting right awareness among the public

Tirupati: “Even after 70 years of independence, the country’s democracy is plagued with several problems resulting in the avowed aims of the republic remain far from achieved,” said Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) L Venkateswarlu. Speaking at an awareness programme organised for students on the voting right, he said the practice of seeking vote in the name of caste, religion and also corrupt means like influencing voters with money and liquor still remaining. 

Even in the states like Andhra Pradesh which is comparatively developed, the distribution of money and liquor to influence voters is still high, he said and observed that these problems will not vanish in one day but can be eradicated with sustained struggle for long, he stated, adding that it is the youth, who have to see the country overcome all these shortcomings and inadequacies in our democracy. Likening the vote as the root of the tree of democracy, he said free and fearless exercise of vote is must for the tree to remain ever green.

Exploiting voters in the name of caste and region results in animosity in the society which in turn endangers the unity and integrity of the nation. Tirupati Urban Tahsildar Chandramohan spoke on the role of students in creating awareness among the public to ensure them exercise their voting right without fail for effective functioning of the democracy for the benefit of all sections. Later, Venkateswarlu interacted with the students on various issues. 

Answering a question on the allegation of the opposition parties that the EVMs are not free from tampering, he categorically said that they are foolproof and its efficacy is tested in four stages before they are put use in the election.