Election Commission officials said polls in Nizamabad would be conducted through paper ballots.
With 185 candidates in the fray, Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency in Telangana will use ballot papers in the upcoming Parliamentary polls. Sticking to their guns, over 170 farmers remained in the fray in the Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency from where Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's daughter K Kavitha is seeking re-election with withdrawal of nominations coming to an end Thursday.
The Election Commission said polls in Nizamabad would be conducted through paper ballot as there are 185 valid candidates.
Election officials said 60 nominations were withdrawn out of the 503 valid nominations.
A total of 443 candidates remained in the fray with Nizamabad topping the list with 185 candidates, a top state Election Commission official said.
Telangana Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar told reporters there are 185 valid contesting candidates in Nizamabad.
Here is why 170 farmers are contesting against K Kavitha, forcing the poll panel to conduct the polling through ballot papers: (With PTI inputs)
1. TRS MP K Kavitha, KCR's daughter, seeking re-election
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Sitting TRS MP K Kavitha, daughter of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, is seeking re-election from Nizamabad. There are over 170 farmers in the fray from the seat.
The Election Commission said polls in Nizamabad would be conducted through paper ballot as there are 185 valid candidates.
2. Why EVMs can't be used in Nizamabad
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Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) cannot be used if there are more than 64 candidates since there is a provision of maximum of 4 units - with each unit carrying 16 candidates - for polling.
Telangana CEO Rajat Kumar said there are 185 valid contesting candidates in Nizamabad. As many as 203 candidates filed nominations in the election to Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency and 191 have been found to be valid after scrutiny, officials said on Tuesday.
"In Nizamabad, we have to go (conduct polls) by ballot paper. This will be also referred to ECI to take approval for what kind of ballot paper we will use. Symbols have to be allotted. ECI will give guidelines for design of ballot paper and we will print it," Kumar said.
The Election Commission would carry out awareness programmes in this regard, he said.
3. Why 170 farmers are contesting Lok Sabha polls in Nizamabad
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The farmers had filed their nominations protesting the alleged failure of the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) to ensure minimum support price for turmeric and red jowar (sorghum) produce. Turmeric and red jowar farmers have been demanding an increase in the MSP for their produce.
Farmers have been seeking MSP of Rs 15,000 per quintal for turmeric and Rs 3,500 MSP per quintal of red sorghum.
They are also demanding setting up of a turmeric board.
A farmer leader said they have been seeking a remunerative price for turmeric and red jowar crops and for ensuring MSP for their produce for the past several days.
Raghupathy Reddy, a turmeric farmer who filed his nomination, said he was going ahead and contesting the elections over the demands.
4. Only TRS government cared for farmers: K Kavitha
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On the turmeric farmers issue, Kavitha had earlier said that she had worked hard for setting up of a turmeric board.
"I have introduced private member bill (in Parliament). No government cared for turmeric farmers. Only the TRS government cared for turmeric farmers. The TRS government gave Rs 2 lakh subsidy on boilers worth Rs 4 lakh. KCR (as Telangana CM is referred to) worked for the welfare of farmers but Prime Minister Narendra Modi never cared for them," she said.
5. 443 Lok Sabha candidates in Telangana
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There are 443 candidates in Telangana, Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar told reporters.
A total of 648 nominations were filed in the State of which 145 were rejected and 503 nominations were found to be in order after scrutiny, a release from Telangana Election Commission said on Wednesday.
Election officials said 60 nominations were withdrawn out of the 503 valid nominations.
Telangana, with 17 Lok Sabha constituencies, goes to the polls in the first phase on April 11.
