99% charge in EVM battery doesn’t impact counting: EC

99% charge in EVM battery doesn’t impact counting: EC

Nisha.Nambiar@timesofindia.com 25.11.2024 

Pune : Election commission (EC) has dismissed opposition’s claims in Maharashtra about EVM battery levels impacting counting of votes polled in assembly elections. They said EVM battery charge remaining at 99% — one of the charges levelled by opposition after results were declared on Saturday — had no bearing on the counting process. Senior EC officials told TOI that battery percentage displays are for technical monitoring and cannot influence vote recording or counting accuracy: 

“Battery voltage and capacity have no connection to counting operations or EVM integrity.” Actor Swara Bhaskar on Saturday had alleged EVM manipulation, following her husband Fahad Ahmed’s electoral loss, claiming that battery levels of EVMs remained at 99% the entire day. She was among many from opposition who raised issues with EVMs. EC said such allegations lack technical basis and that EVMs use alkaline batteries providing a stable power source for the machines to work even in remote areas without electricity

EC fixes poll rate card, chicken biriyani down to Rs 150 from Rs 180

EC fixes poll rate card, chicken biriyani down to Rs 150 from Rs 180

The expenditure limit for parliamentary constituencies has been increased from Rs 70 lakh to Rs 95 lakh between the 2019 and 2024 elections

Election Commission of India in New Delhi. (Photo |Shekhar Yadav, EPS)

B Anbuselvan

Updated on:

23 Mar 2024, 7:41 am

CHENNAI: With the DMK, AIADMK, BJP gearing up for campaign, a recent ECI notification comprising a revised price list of over 200 items used for trail, will be of help to the candidates to ensure they do not exceed the spending limit, at least in their official expenditure submissions.

The expenditure limit for parliamentary constituencies has been increased from Rs 70 lakh to Rs 95 lakh between the 2019 and 2024 elections. As a result, the EC has marginally increased the prices of items and services utilised by political parties. The district election officer will evaluate the expenses incurred by candidates using the price list.

According to a recent order issued by Chennai district election officer J Radhakrishnan, the price of tea has been raised from Rs 10 to Rs 15 and coffee from Rs 15 to Rs 20, while the rate of chicken biriyani has been reduced from Rs 180 to Rs 150 per packet compared to 2019. The price of mutton biryani remains Rs 200 per packet. The prices of t-shirts and sarees have also not been increased.

The list comprises items, including food provided to those participating in campaign-related activities, vehicles, and other furniture hired for campaign offices and meetings, expenses for stage decoration, worker wages, electronic devices, and items such as banners, posters, chairs, and flags. Expenses for welcoming political leaders, including crackers, posters, garlands, and cultural dances, will also be included in the candidate’s expenses.

Official sources said the campaign rates are determined according to the recommendations of the Public Works Department for each district. “The PWD issues a price list based on wholesale price index, inflation rate, and other economic indicators provided by the finance department. Prices for certain items may vary across districts based on PWD rates,” said an official.

A booth committee representative of the AIADMK in Chennai said, “It is practically not possible to monitor every expense. However, EC officials insist on proper accounting for chairs, tables, fans, and other items during campaign meetings. The prices quoted by the EC were too high for some items.”

The cost of campaign meetings involving star campaigners is likely to increase, as the EC has set a higher rate for electrical equipment. According to the order, Rs 31,305 has been fixed per day for supplying 4.5-tonne floor-mounting air conditioners for the stage. Similarly, higher charges have been set for the use of sports utility vehicles during the campaign.

An official said expenditure observers have been appointed for each constituency, and campaign activities by candidates and their party members will be videographed.

EC uploads electoral bonds data shared by SBI on its website

EC uploads electoral bonds data shared by SBI on its website

TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Mar 14, 2024, 08.14 PM IST

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Thursday uploaded electoral bonds data as shared by the State Bank of India, on its website.

The State Bank of India (SBI) had submitted a compliance affidavit to the Supreme Court on Wednesday, confirming that it has provided the Election Commission of India (EC) with comprehensive details regarding the electoral bonds scheme.

SBI had furnished information including the date of purchase, the names of the purchasers, and the denominations of the electoral bonds.

Electoral bonds have been a subject of intense debate and scrutiny, as they are used by individuals and corporations to anonymously donate money to political parties.

The Supreme Court had earlier directed SBI to share detailed information with the Election Commission to ensure transparency and accountability in political funding. In addition to the details of the purchasers, SBI has also provided the EC with information regarding the date of encashment of the electoral bonds and the names of the political parties that received the donations.

This move is aimed at enhancing the transparency of political contributions and ensuring that the funds are traceable and accounted for.

100 percent of first-generation voters, college students, to vote: Governor's advice to vice chancellors

100 percent of first-generation voters, college students, to vote: Governor's advice to vice chancellors

All universities to devise strategies to achieve 100 percent voter turnout among first-time voters. Governor of Tamil Nadu and Chancellor of State Universities RN Ravi discussed with the Vice Chancellors at Raj Bhavan, Chennai.

CHENNAI: Governor RN Ravi has urged college students who are first generation voters to vote 100 percent in the elections in the university vice-chancellors' advisory meeting.

In this regard, the press release issued by the Governor's House said: Tamil Nadu Governor and Chancellor of Universities RN Ravi held a consultation with all the Vice Chancellors of the Universities at the Governor's House on the 11th. At that time, he urged college students who are the first generation voters to vote 100 percent in the elections.

Considering this effort to get 100 per cent first generation voters to vote as a movement, the Vice Chancellors assured that due attention will be given to sensitize the students about voting and ensure that all of them have voter ID cards.

For this, NCC and NSS students' help was sought and development of a new app to issue voter card to students was discussed in the meeting. The meeting also discussed plans to commend colleges and departments for 100 percent student voting.

Vice-Chancellors who take steps towards 100 percent polling will be felicitated at the Governor's House. It was also advised that awareness campaigns and rallies should be conducted in universities to convey to the students about the importance of voting. The use of social networking sites and entertaining videos can greatly enhance this awareness work. It says so.

POLLING

ELECTION

ELECTION

 

ELECTION

 

THUMBING WIN FOR DMK

 

LOCALBODY ELECTION CHENNAI

 

CONJOINED TWINS VOTE SEPARATELY GIVEN DARK GLASSES FOR SECRECY

 

AMID PANDEMIC VOTERS EAGER TO EXERCISE FRANCHISE

 

LOCAL BODY ELECTION 2022

 

MOST COVID19 PATIENTS REFUSE TO VOTE

 

ELECTION

 

Civic polls in 9 TN dists on Oct 6 and 9

Civic polls in 9 TN dists on Oct 6 and 9

14.09.2021

Local body elections in nine newly-created districts of Tamil Nadu would be held in two phases on October 6 and 9, state election commissioner V Palanikumar said Monday. Elections will be held in 39 unions on October 6, while the remaining 35 will go to polls on October 9. Palanikumar said the code of conduct would come into immediate effect in the districts of Kancheepuram, Chengalpet, Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupattur, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Tirunelveli and Tenkasi where the polls would be held. In 28 other districts, elections would be held on October 9 for 789 posts in the local bodies, which are lying vacant, said the state election commissioner. Filing of nominations will begin on September 15 and continue until September 22. Counting will be held on October 12. TNN

Over 76.5L voters to exercise franchise in two-phase polls

The elections would be held for 27,003 posts, including those of 140 district panchayat ward councillors, 2,901 village panchayat presidents and 22,581 village panchayat ward councillors, the commissioner said.

A total of 76,59,720 voters would exercise their franchise in the two-phase polls. Each voter would cast four votes to elect the district panchayat ward councillors, panchayat union councillors, village panchayat president and village panchayat ward councillors. Ballot paper would be used, the officer said.

Polling will take place from 7am to 6pm. Covid-19 patients and persons with symptoms would be allowed to vote from 5pm to 6pm. “We will appoint a micro observer and videograph the proceedings in sensitive booths,” said the commissioner. He noted that 40,000 police personnel would also be roped in for election duty.

As many as 1.10 lakh government employees would be engaged for poll duty. The commission would engage an IAS officer as an election observer for each district.

“We have taken all precautionary measures to conduct the polls in a free and fair manner. The arrangements have been made after holding a meeting with representatives of political parties,” said Palanikumar. The polls would be held as per the standard operating procedure and in compliance with Covid-19 norms, he added.

The Election Commission has commenced preparatory work to hold elections for urban local bodies too.

Difficult to hold ’22 polls if EVMs not freed: EC

EVMs Locked As SC Extended Limitation Period To File Poll Petitions Due To Covid-19 Pandemic

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:02.09.2021

Uncertainty looms over next year's assembly elections in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Uttarakhand and Manipur as the Election Commission moved the Supreme Court seeking timely release of EVMs and VVPATs used in state elections last year and this year, which are kept in safe custody in anticipation of filing of election petitions.

As per the statute, EVMs are to be kept untouched and safe for 45 days from the declaration of results, which is the time limit for a defeated candidate to file an election petition challenging the results. If no election petition is filed within the period of limitation (45 days), EVMs can be released for re-use in subsequent elections.

The problem faced by EC stems from an order of the Supreme Court which, keeping in mind the difficulties posed by the Covid pandemic, indefinitely extended the limitation period since the disease gripped the country from March last year.

This means, all election results declared within 45 days of the lockdown enforced in March last year due to the pandemic, would still be open for challenge by the defeated candidates. Thus, all the EVMs deployed for assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Delhi, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal could not be reused unless the SC fixed a specific time period for filing of election petitions concerning these polls.

Senior advocate Vikas Singh mentioned the EC's application before a bench headed by CJI N V Ramana and sought urgent an urgent hearing while conveying the anxiety of the poll panel about the uncertainty around next year’s state elections, given the fact that about 4.5 lakh EVMs, used in the assembly polls this year and last year, remain locked. The bench agreed to list the application as early as possible.

The EC, in its application filed through advocate Amit Sharma, said, "Every Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) used in an election and kept in the custody of the District Election Officer shall be kept untouched, under the standard protocol of security, tilt confirmation of election petition position from the high court concerned after the completion of the period for filing election petition, that is, 45 days from the declaration of the result."

"In the case of elections, where no election petitions have been filed or no other court cases are pending, after the aforesaid period of 45 days, EVMs may be used for any future election or any other purpose like movement, physical verification of EVMs. In case of any election where election petition has been filed, the following action shall be taken:- (i) If EVMs are the subject of the election petition, EVMs used at all polling stations in the constituency concerned shall continue to be kept in the safe custody of the District Election Officer, till such time the election petition is finally disposed of by the courts. (ii) If EVMs are not the subject of the election petition, an application may be moved to the court concerned for allowing EVMs concerned to be taken out of the strong room for any future election or any other purpose like movement, physical verification of EVMs etc," the EC said.

EC said for next year’s assembly elections in five states, 4.6 EVMs and 4 lakh VVPATs would be required. It said it has a stock of 1.4 lakh EVMs and one lakh VVPATs.

As per the statute, EVMs are to be kept safe for 45 days from the declaration of results, which is the time limit for a defeated candidate to file a petition challenging the results

On second run, Pinarayi drops star woman min

On second run, Pinarayi drops star woman min

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Thiruvananthapuram:19.05.2021

The CPM, in a bid to induct fresh faces in the second Pinarayi Vijayan government, dropped the immensely popular K K Shailaja from the new cabinet, sending shockwaves across the state and among its own cadre, and spawning doubts on the continued efficacy of the state’s fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

On Tuesday, CPM MLAs formally elected Pinarayi Vijayan as its parliamentary party leader and chief minister candidate and announced 11 names to be inducted as ministers in the second LDF government, scheduled to be sworn in on Thursday. Shailaja has been made the party whip.

The list of ministers was finalised by the CPM politburo — comprising Vijayan, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, M A Baby and S Ramachandran Pillai — which met here in the morning.

OUT OF FAVOUR: Shailaja was widely praised for her handling of the Covid-19 pandemic crisis

Pinarayi’s son-in-law Riyas in new Kerala cabinet

The party decided not to tamper with the policy it adopted ahead of the crucial election, of giving preference to new faces. As part of this policy, it had denied tickets to those who contested elections twice in succession, including senior leaders like G Sudhakaran and TM Thomas Isaac. Accordingly, it decided to include all new faces in the next ministry. Politburo member Balakrishnan then presented the list before the state committee members for ratification.

The new ministers include CPM central committee member and three-time MLA M V Govindan, central committee member and former speaker K Radhakrishnan, state secretariat members and former MPs P Rajeeve and K N Balagopal, state committee members Saji Cherian, V N Vasavan, V Sivankutty and Mohammed Riyas, former Thrissur mayor R Bindu, former journalist and two-time MLA Veena George, politician-cum-businessman and two-time MLA V Abdurahiman. Riyas is the sonin-law of CM Vijayan and Bindu is the wife of CPM acting secretary and LDF convener A Vijayaraghavan. State committee member M B Rajesh is the party’s speaker candidate while T P Ramakrishnan the parliamentary party secretary. The portfolios will be decided by Vijayan later.

Pinarayi Vijayan called on governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Tuesday evening and staked a claim to form the new government.

Full report on www.toi.in

Assuming power in the time of great adversity

Assuming power in the time of great adversity

Unlike previous govts, this DMK govt took charge knowing well of the biggest adversity that it would face this term. A look at its efforts to combat pandemic so far

Published: 17th May 2021 03:38 AM |

By Omjasvin MD

Express News Service

CHENNAI: When the election results were declared on May 2, the subdued celebrations across the State belied the DMK’s anxious 10-year wait to return to power. Unlike other governments, this DMK government took charge knowing fully well of the biggest adversity that it would face and must resolve in this term. The one-month delay in declaring the poll results had already hampered the State’s efforts to quell the pandemic’s second wave. More waves are in the offing, experts say.

In the first week of May, ambulances began queuing outside hospitals with beds being scarce and patients were left gasping for precious oxygen. The situation has not changed much even now. So, lets have a look a what the new government has actually accomplished in just a matter of days after coming to power.

Even before taking oath as the Chief Minister, MK Stalin convened a meeting of officials to discuss Covid-19 mitigation efforts. With bringing experienced and honest officials to top posts, and ramping up the number of oxygen beds in all hospitals, the DMK-led government has seemingly started the battle on a war-footing.

Seasoned politician and former Chennai Mayor Ma Subramanian was made the Health Minister, the hot seat at the moment. Immediately, he began inspection of city hospitals and ordered an addition of 12,500 oxygen beds. The Chennai Trade Centre was also soon upgraded to an 800-bed oxygen facility. About 360 beds were opened to patients on May 11, without much fanfare, and presently about 70 patients are being treated at the centre, officials said. Another 500 beds will be introduced by May 25.

The plan is to shift severe patients recovering in tertiary hospitals to this facility and make more beds available in bigger hospitals. Speaking to Express, Health Minister Subramanian said, “We are enhancing the health services in suburban areas. In Avadi, we added 50 oxygen beds, and another 50 more at Velammal Surapet. A Siddha care centre too will be opened there.” Apart from this, orders were given to ramp up at least 250 oxygen beds at Stanley GH, while Chennai Corporation too began distribution of oxygen concentrators to government hospitals for the benefit of patients waiting for admission.

HR and CE Minister Shekhar Babu inspecting the Covid care centre at

Don Bosco school in Egmore on Sunday, as Corporation Commissioner

Gagandeep Singh Bedi and MP Dayanidhi Maran look on

Gagandeep Singh Bedi, a senior bureaucrat who handled the 2004 Tsunami and 2015 Cuddalore floods relief efforts, was recently appointed the Chennai Corporation Commissioner. “The civic body will more strictly enforce the Covid treatment protocols. For symptomatic patients, we provide medicines during testing itself. We will also ramp up the vaccination drive and we aim to vaccinate one lakh people between May 15 and 18,” the corporation commissioner said.

So far, the corporation has received over 900 oxygen concentrators and it has handed over 90 per cent of them to government hospitals. “These concentrators will help patients who are in ambulances outside the hospitals waiting for beds to clear up. We have further given orders for 2,900 more oxygen concentrators. The Tondiarpet Communicable Diseases Hospital, Chennai Trade Centre and Injambakkam UPHC now have oxygen beds,” Bedi added.

Apart from these measures, the civic body, in a first, recruited over 135 MBBS students for Covid containment efforts and also doubled its zonal enforcement teams to implement the lockdown, which was announced as the last option to control the massive spread. On the vaccine front, the Chief Minister has decided to call for global tenders to procure 3.5 crore doses of vaccine, as the State was not receiving enough supply of vaccine doses from the Central government and manufactures in the country. This move was lauded by many and the DMK had earlier written to the Central government, urging for a free-vaccination-for-all policy.

To integrate requests for oxygen and beds, the State set up an exclusive Covid-19 war room to monitor all calls. This war-room, which connects all calls from 104 helpline numbers, strengthened the containment measures and helped to streamline requests from across the State, at a single spot. On May 14, CM Stalin made a surprise visit here and helped in allotting bed for a grieving patient. With the government taking up the challenge head-on, the test positivity rate (TPR) in Chennai dipped from 26.6 per cent on May 9 to 21.7 per cent on May 14. Health Secretary Dr J Radhakrishnan said that though the TPR is declining, people should not let their guard down.

Stalin launches ₹4,153cr dole to ration card holders, people crowd PDS shops

Stalin launches ₹4,153cr dole to ration card holders, people crowd PDS shops

₹2,000 For Each During First Phase

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

11.05.2021 

Chief minister M K Stalin launched Covid relief distribution for ration card holders in the state on Monday.

Stalin gave away ₹2,000 to seven people at the Secretariat in the presence of cooperatives minister I Periyasamy and food minister R Sakkarapani.

Elsewhere in the state, distribution of tokens for two crore ration card holders commenced at public distribution system outlets. While staff at PDS outlets went door-to-door giving away the tokens, people started thronging ration shops in few places unaware of the door delivery system. Ration shop staff had tough time sending them away. Officials, however, said cash distribution in exchange for the tokens from May 15 will be a seamless exercise with each card holder allotted a separate time slab.

Giving away Covid relief of ₹4,000 was one of the key prepoll promises of Stalin. It was one among the first five orders he signed immediately after assuming charge as chief minister. He allotted ₹4,153 crore for the purpose. Stalin said that ₹2,000 each would be given in the first phase and the remaining would be distributed in second phase.

The token distribution for the first phase would be done over three days and cash distribution is scheduled for May 15 at ration shops. “People should wear face masks, follow social distancing and receive the cash,” the statement said.

As people started thronging ration shops at several places in the morning, officials stepped in and issued instructions to send them back home. Salem district collector S A Raman said that he has strictly instructed ration shop staff to visit every car holders house and distribute token at their door step. “I also instructed the staff not to ask the card holder to come to the shop to collect the token,” he said.

In Chennai, authorities swung into action soon after the scheme was launched by Stalin at the Secretariat. Chennai region has 1,746 ration shops and 21 lakh ration cards. So, authorities have planned to finish distribution of tokens before this Friday. There was confusion whether those with sugar cards, who have applied for conversion into rice cards, will be eligible to get this amount. Food minister Sakkarapani clarified that this group will not be part of the relief distribution program. Officials said a team headed by tahsildar or BDO has been formed to ensure effective implementation of the scheme.

An official from the cooperative department in Madurai said they had ensured that people do not visit ration shops seeking tokens. “Tokens are being given door-to-door. People who did not get the tokens can approach the respective fair price shop on Thursday and get it at once,” he said. According to him, distribution of cash will take seven days to complete from May 15 to cover all card holders in Madurai. People need to visit the shop only at the specified time on the given day to collect the cash, the official added.

DEADLY CROWD: People wait outside a ration shop in Chennai on Monday without adhering to any Covid protocols