Opposition demands double check of VVPAT

Mumbai: Right in the middle of Lok Sabha polls, the Opposition parties have raked up the electronic voting machine (EVM) issue again, with NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Telugu Desam head Chandrababu Naidu along with other Opposition leaders demanding counter-checking of VVPAT slips to ensure transparency in the counting of votes.

Expressing concerns about the alleged tampering of EVM machines, Mr Pawar said that people were not in a mood to change the Modi-led government but manipulation of EVMs was the only worrying factor.

Supporting him, Mr Naidu, Andhra Pradesh chief minister, said that the election results should be declared on the basis of counting of at least 50 per cent of VVPAT slips and tallying them with the EVM machines.

The voter can cast vote on EVM machines and then check on the VVPAT machine whether the vote has gone to the right candidate.

Mr Naidu stated that the Opposition parties will file a review petition in the Supreme Court in this regard. “The Opposition will approach the Supreme Court on the issue again,” he said and made a strong pitch for counter-checking at least 50 per cent of the VVPAT trail to ensure transparency in the counting of votes.

Mr Naidu  alleged that the manipulation through EVMs was the ruling BJP’s ‘only resort’ to retain power.

“All over the country, the BJP is losing very badly. On this backdrop, the BJP can win only through manipulation of EVM machines,” he said.

Mr Naidu alleged that instances of EVM malfunctioning and selective manipulation of the machines had been reported in the first three phases of polling in his state, Kerala, Goa and Uttar Pradesh, among others.

Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analysis etc al. Happy reading.