Cong demands EC should conduct election on ballot

DAINIK NATION BUREAU

Congress has expressed apprehensions on the misuse of the electronic voting machine (EVMs) so they demanded from the Election Commission to resume old practice i.e. paper ballot and condemned BJP’s move for simultaneous elections.

The political resolution, adopted at the party’s plenary here, underscored the need for ensuring free and fair elections to retain people’s faith in the integrity of the electoral system.

“The EC has the constitutional mandate to ensure free and fair elections. Both the voting and counting process must remain transparent to retain people’s faith in the integrity of the electoral system,” the resolution said.

There is an apprehension among the Political Parties and the people over the misuse of EVMs to manipulate the outcome contrary to the popular verdict. To ensure the credibility of the electoral process, the EC should resume to the old practice of paper ballot, as several democratic countries have done.

The Congress also said that the idea of simultaneous election is imcompatible with the Constitution and is impractical and misplaced.

The BJP’s move for simultaneous elections is misplaced. It is incompatible with the Constitution and is also impractical. It will have serious implications, which must be thoroughly enquired into, and a national consensus built.