Nizamabad polling to be held through EVMs

Hyderabad: In a significant development, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued instructions to Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) to conduct elections to Nizamabad Lok Sabha elections through EVMs.

The Commission has also issued orders to ECIL for immediate supply of 26,820 BUs (Ballot Units), 2,240 CUs and 2,600 VVPATs of M3 make to Telangana election authorities.

The ECI's decision has come as a surprise as Telangana election authorities have earlier stated that ballot papers were likely to be used in view of the presence of 185 candidates in the fray.

Telangana CEO Rajat Kumar said three days ago that they had sent a report about Nizamabad Lok Sabha nominations to ECI and a final decision was awaited.

Nizamabad Lok Sabha comprises seven segments such as Armoor, Bodhan, Balkonda, Koratla, Jagtiyal, Nizamabad (Urban) and Nizamabad (Rural) and the total number of voters is nearly 15.5 lakh.

ECI's decision may bring a big relief to candidates of three main political parties Kalvakuntla Kavitha (TRS), Madhu Yashki Goud (Congress) and D Aravind (BJP) as election through ballot paper and counting is a tedious process and announcement of result will take a longer time.

It may be recalled that farmers from eleven mandals including Balkonda, Morthad, Mupkal, Kammarpalli, Bheemgal, Armoor, Sirikonda, Korutla, Metpalli and Jagtiyal mandals have filed nominations for Nizamabad election.

These farmers have sowed turmeric and maize crops and have been on the warpath for last few months demanding MSP and establishment of a spices board in the erstwhile Nizamabad district. They entered electoral fray to take their fight to the national level.