Opposition parties raise ruckus over use of BRS party colour

Hyderabad: The Election Commission of India's move to set up model pink-coloured polling booths has triggered an uproar among Telangana state political parties, who are alleging that this initiative would influence voters as pink is the BRS party's colour.

Following this, EC officials have directed DEOs to consider changing the colour of all model polling booths with black and white.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) had decided on pink coloured model and women polling booths that would also feature pink balloons, banners, flags and all other materials. This was to be common in all poll-bound states.

Chief electoral officer (CEO) Vikas Raj, who has received inputs on the issue, asked the officials to consider changing colours. In the 2018 elections, the ECI had pink-coloured special polling booths for women in all states, including in Telangana.
"The issue is in the ambit of ECI. Sakhi polling booths were meant to draw women voters. We will consider changing its colours," Vikas Raj said.

The Congress party had filed a complaint with the ECI against the use of pink colour.