Cooperative elections of APMCs to be held using EVMs in Gujarat

Gandhinagar: The cooperative department of the state government has granted administrative approval to the purchase of EVM for the elections of Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMC).

Gujarat has a total 240 APMCs. The elections are held for APMC for the 10 seats from farmers department, 4 seats from traders department and two seats from general voters union. The district registrar organises the elections of APMC. The printed ballot papers were used for the elections of APMC so far. However, the cooperative department has granted approval to the purchase of 40 ballot units, 40 control units and 40 EVMs at a cost of Rs 12 lakh for APMC elections.

The Gujarat Agricultural Marketing Board’s Managing Director has been appointed as nodal agency for the purchase of EVMs. The purchase will be made from the central government run Bharat Electronics Ltd or Electronic Corporation of India Ltd. The EVMs will be stored at the strong room for the upcoming 6 months after the purchase. DeshGujarat