EVMs responsible for low voting in UP, alleges Lalu

Varanasi, Apr 25 (UNI) RJD chief and Railways Minister Lalu Prasad today claimed the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) instead of the time-tested ballot paper-boxes has resulted in low voter turnout in assembly elections Uttar Pradesh.

''It takes two minutes to cast a vote with the EVM, which has primarily led to decline in voting percentages ranging between 35 per cent to 45 per cent in UP,'' Mr Yadav told newspersons here.

The compulsion of voter-ID cards had also resulted in low voter turnout, which is not a healthy sign for democracy in the country.

''Instead of EVMs, I have suggested the Election Commission (EC) to introduce a novel practice of polling through collection of votes from doors of the electorate. Going door-to-door with proper security and poll staff would be beneficial,'' the former Bihar CM observed.

The RJD leader alleged akin to 2005 Bihar assembly poll, majority of voters in UP have been deprived of the right to vote due to the widespread irregularities in voter lists. ''Even the names of UP Congress president Salman Khurshid and his wife Louis were missing from the list.'' He also held the ''fascist forces'' responsible for the low voting percentage, saying ''voters were being terrorised by certain political parties. Sadly, election in UP has taken the form of a war.'' UNI