Bengaluru, Dec 21: A Karnataka minister today alleged that the Election Commission of India has been reduced to "a puppet" at the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government’s hands and emphasised that it should pave way for public scrutiny of EVMs. 
The Congress government in Karnataka is writing to the election commission with suggestions on electronic voting machines, state minister for information technology and tourism Priyank Kharge said.
However, the ball is in the court of the election commission whether to agree or not, he said.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event here, the minister said, "We are ready for our suggestions and even experiments. But the moot question is whether the election commission is ready."
He said the election commission has to agree with the state's proposal first.
"The election commission has been reduced to a puppet at the hands of the Union government. Even, the Centre has to agree with it (the proposal)," the minister said.
Kharge said the EC can make use of the techies and experts in Karnataka to test the EVMs.
He clarified that he is raising the matter, not because of upcoming Karnataka assembly polls but because EVMs are used from the panchayat level to Lok Sabha polls.
Kharge referred to reports claiming that a candidate contesting the municipal elections in Uttar Pradesh could not get his own votes.
He said Patidar agitation leader Hardik Patel in Gujarat too had expressed reservation on the EVMs.
Udupi, Jan 4: A 37-year-old Udupi district JD(S) spokesperson allegedly committed suicide at his residence here last night, police said on Saturday.
Comments
This Minsiter is 100 correct in stating that EC is acting on the advice of Union Govt and not ready to hold election through ballot paper instead of incorrect EVM. These EVM has favored bjp in all the elections. Its unfortunate that Union Govt and EC are not ready to hold electrion on ballot paper inspite of knowing the truth and agitation from various opposition parties. Why do they love EVM so much? EVM is not being used in any country as every one knows that it can be malfunctioned and it so happed in india. Union Govtr and EC are giving incorrect and false statements that EVM cannot be malfunctioned but it is cleared shown with proof that EVM can be malfunctioned. However, these people are not ready to accept the truth. Its really a shame and shows that they are fooling public and can go to any level to win electrion.
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