Lok Sabha Elections 2019: With 178 farmers in the fray, number of EVMs per booth in Nizamabad sets record

Nizamab in Telangana has been in focus recently as it has highest number of candidates i.e 185, contesting in Lok Sabha polls. This excess of candidates is due to  178 farmers who h jumped into fray to support ir demand for a remunerative price for turmeric and red sorghum and for setting up of a Turmeric Board based in Nizamab.

As polling got underway in Telangana for all 17 Lok Sabha constituencies on Thursday, Nizamab with its large number of candidates has necessitated deployment 12 EVMs in each booth.

"This is first time in world where elections are conducted with such a large number of candidates using (such a large number of) EVMs," said Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar.

Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) President and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's daughter K Kavitha is seeking re-election from here. She is facing TRS Rajya Sabha member D Srinivas's son D Arvind as her BJP opponent while Congress has fielded while AICC Secretary Mhu Yashki Goud against her. Kavitha along with her husband Anil have cast ir vote in Potangal vill in Bodhan Assembly constituency on Thursday. 

RE| 170 farmers file minations for Nizamab Lok Sabha seat where Telangana CM KCR's daughter K Kavitha will seek re-election

Blaming BJP, she h said it was Centre which should take initiative for setting up Turmeric Board. On or hand,  contesting farmers have alleged that TRS government failed to ensure minimum support price for turmeric and red sorghum produce and in getting Turmeric Board established.

While voting began at 7 a.m in or constituencies, it commenced in Nizamab an hour later as planned due to mock polling in view of 185 candidates in fray and deployment of 12 EVMs per booth and are coupled in series and attached to a control unit in inverted 'L' shape. Election Commission is using M3 EVMs which can support up to 24 Balloting Units (BU) with each BU holding 24 names.

In a rmal situation, EC drafts 15 to 16 engineers in a constituency, for troubleshooting, whereas for Nizamab it has kept as many as 600 engineers. Rajat Kumar h earlier said an ditional helicopter would be kept rey in case if any machines have to be airlifted. Over 26,000 ballot Units, 2,200 control units and about 26,000 VVPATs are being used for Nizamab constituency.

(With ncy inputs)