In a major setback for all those in the Opposition, who have been rooting for a return to paper ballot system, the Election Commission has categorically said that there was no question of going back from the electronic voting machines. Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said on Friday at Kolkata that the future elections would be held only with the EVMs.
This statement could dampen the will of the Congress, AAP and other Opposition parties, which are preparing for the assembly elections to Maharashtra, Bihar, Delhi and Haryana. The Opposition has been arguing that the BJP was tampering with the EVMs to score massive victories in successive elections. But, this contention has been rejected outright by the election commission. Sunil Arora said that the Supreme Court has time and again said that the elections should be held with EVMs. He said the political parties were raising unnecessary ruckus on the issue.
The Telugu Desam Party, the Trinamool Congress Party, the Maharashtra Navanirman Sena and the National Conference have been demanding that the EC conduct the elections using only ballot papers and not EVMs.
This statement could dampen the will of the Congress, AAP and other Opposition parties, which are preparing for the assembly elections to Maharashtra, Bihar, Delhi and Haryana. The Opposition has been arguing that the BJP was tampering with the EVMs to score massive victories in successive elections. But, this contention has been rejected outright by the election commission. Sunil Arora said that the Supreme Court has time and again said that the elections should be held with EVMs. He said the political parties were raising unnecessary ruckus on the issue.
The Telugu Desam Party, the Trinamool Congress Party, the Maharashtra Navanirman Sena and the National Conference have been demanding that the EC conduct the elections using only ballot papers and not EVMs.