New Delhi: Opposition Alliance India, a group of political parties in India, has expressed concerns about the functioning of electronic voting machines (EVMs) used in elections. In a resolution passed on Tuesday, December 19, the alliance highlighted various doubts surrounding the sanctity of EVMs and called for specific measures to address these issues.
The resolution stated that parties within the alliance have submitted a detailed memorandum to the Election Commission of India, outlining several important questions related to the design and operation of EVMs. However, the commission has not shown interest in meeting the delegation to discuss these concerns.
The alliance emphasised that experts and specialists have raised doubts about the reliability of EVMs, citing instances of malfunctioning and discrepancies in the counting process. They proposed a simple and clear solution to restore public faith in free and fair elections:
Instead of dropping Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips in boxes, they should be handed over directly to voters.
After verifying their selection, voters can place the VVPAT slip in a separate ballot box.
After the election, 100% counting of VVPAT slips should be conducted to ensure accuracy and transparency.
The opposition parties have repeatedly raised concerns about the malfunctioning of EVMs, particularly when they face defeat in elections. In response, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has countered that the opposition only questions the integrity of EVMs when they lose, not when they win.
The meeting of Opposition Alliance India also discussed other issues, including the selection of a potential prime ministerial candidate, seat-sharing arrangements, and the organisation of joint rallies. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee proposed Mallikarjun Kharge as a potential PM candidate, with support from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. However, the final decision on the PM’s face will be taken after the elections, with the primary focus being on winning the polls.
Furthermore, the alliance plans to finalise seat-sharing agreements by the second week of January 2024. In the coming days, a joint rally will be held in Bihar’s capital, Patna.
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