Hyderabad: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) Chief Spokesperson Dr. Dasoju Sravan has strongly opposed the plans of Election Commission of India to set up ‘pink’ polling stations to attract women voters in next Assembly elections.
Sravan, in a letter to Chief Election Commissioner O.P. Rawat on Tuesday, said that the ‘pink’ polling stations would not attract women voters, but might influence all voters towards ruling TRS on the polling day.
Referring to some media reports which claimed that the EC would set pink polling stations in Telangana as it did in Karnataka to increase polling percentage of women voters. He said pink was the official colour of TRS party and therefore, pink polling stations were aimed at favouring the ruling party.
“While it is highly appreciable that the Election Commission wants to increase the polling percentage of women through awareness, it is condemnable that the move would only benefit the TRS and it appears to be a part of larger conspiracy,” he said.
The Congress leader pointed out that the Election Commission had removed NOTA (None of the Above Option) from the EVMs in the GHMC elections held in February 2016.
It was done under the pressure of TRS, he alleged. “We suspect that this time the proposal to set up ‘pink’ polling stations for women is being floated under TRS pressure.
As a responsible opposition, the Congress party strongly oppose this move which is aimed at the murdering the democracy,” he said.
Sravan demanded that the no colour should be used at the polling stations so as to ensure fair polling on December 7.