New Delhi: The 28-member bloc of the opposition parties, Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A), Tuesday December 19, 2023 demanded from the Election Commission of India (ECI) to count all the VVPAT slips to ensure fair elections.
“Our suggestion is simple. Instead of the VVPAT slip falling in the box, it should be handed over to the voter who shall then drop it in a separate ballot box after having verified his or her choice. 100% counting of the VVPAT slips should then be done”, the INDIA alliance said in a memorandum submitted to the Election Commission.
The INDIA bloc in its memorandum said “there are doubts on the integrity of the functioning of the EVMs that have also been raised by experts and professionals besides political parties.”
The INDIA bloc said it had sought from the ECI an appointment to meet in person. “The commission however has been reluctant to meet the INDIA alliance delegation on the matter.”
The memorandum on the functioning of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) was submitted to the Election Commission following a resolution passed at the INDIA alliance meeting held in New Delhi Tuesday.
During the meeting, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerji and Delhi Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal proposed the name of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge as the alliance’s PM face for the 2024 Parliamentary Elections.
Several members of the alliance backed the proposal. Kharge, however, said it was important first to win the elections. “Everything else can be decided later”, he said.
Except Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren who joined the meeting virtually, opposition leaders from 27 opposition parties were present in the meeting.
Among other important issues that were discussed during the meeting was confirmation about the seat sharing.
It was decided during the meeting that the seat sharing is top priority and a decision on this will be taken before the end of the ongoing month.
"Discussions were held clearly. Seat-sharing, mass contact program - all of these will begin within 20 days. All decisions will be taken within 3 weeks”, RJD MP Manoj Jha said after the meeting.
Talking with the reporters, senior Congress leader KC Venugopal also said that the “seat sharing discussion will start immediately”, adding, “Priority is seat sharing.”
It has also been decided during the meeting to hold on December 22, 2023 a nation-wide protest over the suspension of 141 MPs from the Parliament.
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