EVM worry for Cong in Malda (N)

Malda: For years, Congress’ campaign slogan for all ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury family scions was “Sobar upore, prothom botamtai (On the top, the first button itself)”.
So, when the party’s pick for Malda (North), Isha Khan Choudhury, came to know his name will be above that of cousin Mausam Noor, the Trinamool Congress candidate, he should have been relieved.Not any more.
Malda (North) has 17 candidates in the fray. An EVM can accommodate only 16 ca-ndidates. So, poll booths in Malda (North) will have two EVMs kept alongside. Since NOTA figures last on an EVM, it will be the only — and top-most — option on the sec-ond EVM. Isha’s will be the top name on the first EVM. This has left the local Congress leadership worried.
Kalisadhan Roy, Isha’s election agent and Malda Congress working president, said: “We have written to the returning officer, observer and chief election commissi-oner regarding our concern. No way can the two EVMs be kept together. This will mislead voters.” He demanded that the second EVM be kept below or in a separate place.
Malda district magistrate Koushik Bhattacharya said: “We have received the Congress letter. We shall act as per EC guidelines.” He refused to elaborate the guidelines.
Roy said: “Guidelines are made for the benefit of people, not to misguide them. We are waiting for their reply. If needed, new guidelines will have to be created.”
In Darjeeling Lok Sabha constituency, Trinamool-GJM (Binay Tamang)’s joint candidate Amar Singh Rai is facing the same predicament. Darjeeling, too, has 17 candidates, necessitating two EVMs for every polling booth, with Rai’s name and photo on top on the first EVM and NOTA on the second.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee herself cautioned voters about this in her public meeting, urging them to first check the name and photograph of the candidate and then cast their vote.