Mumbai
Sharad Pawar’s party NCP-SP has demanded the use of ballot paper in Maharashtra civic elections. The party has condemned the decision of the State Election Commission not to use VVPAT EVMs in the civic elections. Sharad Pawar’s party says how will it know that elections have been held in a transparent manner. In such a situation, it would be right to hold elections with ballot paper. The NCP-SP said that if VVPAT machines are not available, then elections should be conducted only through traditional ballot paper. This will keep transparency and the public’s trust will also be established in the electoral system.
Party leader Rahul Kalate said that preparations for the civic elections are now on boom. But the State Election Commission has disappointed. It is going to shock that there is a shortage of VVPAT machines. It is clear that the Commission does not want elections to be held in a transparent manner. There will also be a fear of being rigged in such a situation. Rahul Kalate fought an election from Chinchwad Assembly seat in Pune, but defeated BJP’s Shankar Jagtap. Not only this, another party of India alliance has objected to not using VVPAT.
Uddhav Thackeray said on Thursday that the decision is wrong. Our demand is that elections should be held only through VVPAT machines. At the same time, the NCP-SP says that if the Election Commission is not able to conduct elections from VVPAT, then the ballot should be returned to the old system of paper. Let us know that after the defeat in the assembly election, Rahul Kalate had filed for counting again. He alleged that there was a disturbance in the counting process. He had moved the Election Commission against this, submitting Form 17 against it. Now once again he has opened a front in the civic elections. The SNP-SP says that there will be no credibility for the election without VVPAT.
