Mumbai, Dec 3 (Reporter) Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Nana Patole on Tuesday hailed an attempt by villagers of Markadwadi in Solapur district to conduct a 're-election' using the ballot papers, while strongly criticising the administration for thwarting their attempt. Commenting on the matter, he said that doubts among citizens about transparency of assembly elections have led to widespread scrutiny of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and the functioning of the Election Commission. The villagers in Markadwadi of Solapur district were prepared to vote using ballot papers, but the local police used force to prevent them from voting, he said. "If there were no irregularities in the election process, why was the administration afraid to allow voting by ballot paper in Markadwadi and was this because they feared exposing the Election Commission’s flaws," he questioned in a scathing critique. The MPCC chief further said that this act of the administration in Markadwadi has further deepened the mistrust surrounding EVMs and the integrity of the election process. "If there’s nothing to hide, why fear? The administration should have allowed the voting to proceed," he averred. "However, under the BJP government, all governmental machinery works under pressure. The Solapur police were merely executing ‘orders from above’. This suppression of the people's voice through administrative mechanisms is an outright assassination of democracy and the Constitution," he said. During the assembly elections held last month, numerous complaints about alleged malpractices were lodged with the Election Commission, even the Congress party consistently raised these issues, but the Commission remained in a ‘deep slumber’ Today, the Election Commission appears to have become a mere puppet under BJP’s control, raising concerns among the public, he charged. "The villagers of Markadwadi have initiated a significant struggle to safeguard democracy. The Congress party stands firmly with them in this battle," Patole added and expressed confidence that this fight would escalate into a larger movement, eventually leading to the defeat of dictatorship and the triumph of democracy...////...