Campaign for Electoral Transparency Addressing Concerns and Advocating for Fairness in the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections- RajaRao Pagidipalli

By RajaRao Pagidipalli

Campaign for Electoral Transparency: Addressing Concerns and Advocating for Fairness in the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections- RajaRao Pagidipalli As our nation gears up for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024, RajaRao Pagidipalli, Founder and President of Telangana Kalaparishath – initiated a campaign aimed at voicing the concerns of the public regarding the reliability and transparency of EVMs. The focus of the campaign is to address concerns about the reliability and transparency of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), a topic that has been a source of apprehension for major political parties in India.

RajaRao Pagidipalli initiated the campaign by sending letters to various significant political parties across the country. Additionally, he filed numerous Right to Information (RTI) applications with key government offices, including the Prime Minister’s Office, President’s Secretariat, Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and Home Ministry. In response, these offices forwarded the concerns raised in the campaign to the Election Commission of India, underlining the importance with which the issues are being treated.

The central concern being addressed is the perceived lack of trustworthiness of EVMs. Over the years, major political parties in India have consistently raised doubts about the reliability of these electronic voting systems. The importance of promptly addressing these concerns is emphasized, as public perception of the electoral process is significantly influenced by issues related to EVMs.

The public harbors genuine worries about potential hacking or manipulation of electronic voting systems. To dispel these doubts and enhance the credibility of the electoral system, there is a call for a thorough examination. A notable portion of the public advocates for a return to the paper ballot system, viewing it as a tangible and transparent solution that would alleviate concerns related to technological interference.

The shift to paper ballots is seen as providing a simpler and easily verifiable counting process. Paper ballots are perceived to offer a visible and secure record of each cast vote, reducing the risk of manipulation and instilling confidence among citizens in the fairness of the electoral process. The campaign, led by RajaRao Pagidipalli, actively planning to engage with various political parties to address public concerns related to EVM issues.

As part of this campaign, Pagidipalli has requested an appointment with the Chief Electoral Officer of India to discuss and present these concerns. The overall objective is to raise awareness about Electronic Voting Machines by giving representations, sending letters to major political parties, and holding meetings. Through these efforts, the campaign aims to foster a better understanding of the concerns surrounding EVMs and promote transparency and confidence in the electoral process among the Indian public.

(The Author is RajaRao Pagidipalli, Founder & President – Telangana Kalaparishath. Views expressed are personal and do not reflect the official position or policy of The Statesman India.)