The Telangana Congress on Tuesday strongly opposed the proposed plan of the Election Commission of India (ECI) to set up pink polling stations in the state, to attract women voters in the upcoming Assembly elections.
In a letter to the ECI, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) Chief Spokesperson Dr. Dasoju Sravan said that the colour pink was associated with the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and therefore, may influence the elections unfairly if such polling stations were set up.
Referring to some media reports which claimed that the EC would set up pink polling stations in Telangana as it did in Karnataka to increase polling percentage of women voters, Sravan said, "Pink is the official colour of the TRS. 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."
"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 party, the Congress strongly oppose this move which is aimed at undermining democracy," Sravan added.
Sravan demanded that the no colour should be used at the polling stations so as to ensure fair polling.
An Election Commission team, led by Chief Election Commissioner O.P. Rawat, on Tuesday reviewed the poll preparedness in Telangana for the December 7 assembly elections. The team held a meeting with senior civil and police officials to take stock of the the election machinery.
The CEC and others discussed with top officials the arrangements being made for the single-phase election, as well as the law and order situation in the state.
Rawat said that the election panel was also using a C-Vigil app for the first time on a pilot basis to check electoral malpractices.
IANS inputs