The decision of the Karnataka government to conduct the local body elections through ballot papers is a welcome decision.
In the light of the controversy surrounding the EVM machines, it is a wise step, demonstrating the feasibility of conducting free and fair elections with ballot papers with all the rigor and efficiency. It also reassures the public, who doubt the integrity of the EVM machines.
If a large state like Karnataka can carry out its elections through ballot papers, effectively, this would pose a serious challenge to the contention of the election commission against them.
Elections are the basis of legitimizing modern state, especially in parliamentary democracy. It is built upon the broader consensus in the society, where the minority accepts the rule of the majority. This consensus is based upon the perceived fairness of the electoral process. It is in this spirit that much of the developed world has shifted away from evm machines. We recently saw the tech czar Elon musk expressing doubts over evm machines. With AI technology taking over, this doubt will only increase. Therefore this decision to shift to ballot papers, would reassure the voters of the integrity of the process.
The criticism of the opposition bjp by daring the Congress MLAs and MPs to resign as they had won through evm elections, is misplaced as the fresh elections would again be held by evm machines.
The state election commission has also been authorized to prepare a fresh electoral roll, after the 7th August expose by Mr Rahul Gandhi.
