Congress adamant on no EVMs, questions 'compulsion' of using them

Citing examples of the other countries whose technology are far more advanced than India, the Congress party on 2 April, 2017 emphasized on using ballot paper instead of using electronic system.

Speaking to ANI, Congress leader Sharmistha Mukherjee said, "There are countries whose technology are far more advanced than ours but they are not using Electronic Voting Machines. For example France and United Kingdom never used EVM. In Germany and Netherland, the EVM machine has been banned. Italy also starting using EVM but eventually dropped it."

President Pranab Mukherjee's daughter further asserted that since the matter was about elections, where people assert their rights to use their leaders, there was no harm in demanding ballots for elections.

Resonating similar views, Congress leader K.C.Mittal questioned the "compulsion" of "using EVMs in the wake of the ongoing allegations of EVMs tampered in a demonstration exercise in Madhya Pradesh.

"Suppose a person vote for some other party and his votes go to some other, than there is a major problem. The Election Commission must investigate the matter," he said.

Earlier, on 1 April, 2017 a delegation of Congress leaders met Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi and two other ECs seeking a thorough probe and strict action against officials involved.

The delegation comprised Digivijaya Singh, Jytiraditya Scindia, Mohan Prakash, K C Mittal and Vivek Tankha, also demanded to scrap the use of electronic machine in upcoming elections MCD polls and should revert to old ballot paper system.

The Election Commission on 1 April, 2017 decided to send a team of senior officials prior to the upcoming by-election in Madhya Pradesh.

A panel of three IAS and IPS officers, each being deputed as District Election Officer-cum-collector and Superintendent of Police of Bhind for supervising the polls.

This decision came following media reports that VVPAT deployed for an assembly by-poll was only dispensing slips of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) symbol during a demonstration exercise.

By-polls in Ater Assembly constituency in Bhind district and at Bandhavgarh Assembly segment in Umaria district will take place on 9 April, 2017.

-ANI