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17 Opposition parties unite against EVMs, want ballot papers for 2019 Lok Sabha polls
Seventeen opposition parties have decided to approach the Election Commission to demand that 2019 Lok Sabha polls be conducted with ballot papers.
Contending that electronic voting machines (EVMs), even those with voter verifiable paper audit trial (VVPATs), would not be acceptable, the parties will first hold a joint meeting on Monday, then push a discussion on the issue in Parliament, followed by a fresh appeal to the Election Commission of India (EC) over the next week, said a report in The Hindustan Times (HT).
“This is a matter on which all Opposition parties agreed. We are planning to meet next week. We plan to go to the ECI and demand that it conduct the coming Lok Sabha election on ballot papers,” Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Derek O’Brien, reported The Hindu.
The initiative on the matter was taken by TMC chief Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday, when she visited Parliament to meet all Opposition leaders to invite them for rally planned by her in Kolkata on January 19.
Banerjee appealed to all Opposition party leaders who visited her in the TMC office in Parliament, to send a joint delegation to the ECI to point out reports of EVM (electronic voting machine) tampering and to demand that the 2019 general election be held on ballots.
“All Opposition parties should go to ECI on this matter. There should be a joint delegation of opposition parties to EC,” she said.
Aam Admi Party leader Sanjay Singh has been asked to draft the points of contention with the help of TMC MP Subrata Bakshi. “These two leaders have in-depth knowledge of the problems of EVMs,” said an opposition leader. The AAP was among the first parties to cast doubts about EVMs after the Punjab Assembly elections of 2017.
The TMC had staged protests outside Parliament, questioning the neutrality of EVMs and demanded that ballot papers be brought back for the 2019 Lok Sabha election. The ruling party in West Bengal said it was a “common programme” that would unite all Opposition parties.
Interestingly, Banerjee had also urged Shiv Sena, a BJP ally, to be a part of the delegation. Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had demanded that the 2019 Lok Sabha election be conducted on ballot papers instead of EVMs.
Last month, the Congress had demanded restoration of the old system of conducting elections through ballot papers to replace the electronic voting machines. Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said opposition parties were in agreement that EVMs should be removed and the older system should be brought back so that all parties have “faith in the election system”.
“The Congress passed a resolution in the plenary session in which it expressed preference for ballot papers because of the concerns about the EVMs. It is imperative to ensure full faith in the electoral process,” said the party’s spokesperson Rajeev Gowda.
In the political resolution adopted at its 84th plenary session this March, the Congress urged EC to revert to ballot papers instead of EVMs, which have come under scrutiny following allegations of tampering. “There are apprehensions among the political parties and people over the misuse of EVMs to manipulate the outcome contrary to the popular verdict. To ensure the credibility of the electoral process, EC should revert to the old practice of paper ballot, as most major democracies have done,” it said.
A senior Congress leader, who asked not to be named, said a “broad understanding has already been reached between different opposition parties on what exactly the united group will demand from the government and EC”. The demand will specifically focus on reverting to the ballot, and relaying to EC that VVPAT is not a sufficient guarantor for transparency.
ECI has maintained that EVMs are tamper proof, and that VVPATs provide an additional layer to guarantee that voting is accurately captured. It has also repeatedly urged parties to refrain from expressing doubts about their efficacy.
In July 2017, during an all-party meeting, the election commission said that all future elections would be conducted with EVMs coupled with VVPATs.
Chief election commissioner OP Rawat has made public statements ruling out reverting to ballot papers in elections, asserting that the new EVMs have been designed with more stringent checks to rule out tampering or manipulation.
Experts suggested that EC should work towards increasing voter confidence in EVMs. “ EC needs to be more proactive in increasing voter confidence. There is no problem with the machines, but there may be some concerns over the process, so EC must address those,” said Jagdeep Chhokar of the election watchdog Association for Democratic Reform. “There were some concerns about the functioning of the VVPats in the recent by polls; so EC should improve on the technology,” he added.
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BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri appointed as election in-charge of Tonk constituency in Rajasthan
Ramesh Bidhuri’s appointment comes amid speculation that Congress leader Sachin Pilot would be contesting from the Tonk constituency in the upcoming assembly election.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Ramesh Bidhuri has been appointed as the party’s election in-charge of the Tonk constituency in Rajasthan, according to reports. Earlier, the party had issued a showcause notice to him for anti-Muslim slurs against his Parliament colleague Danish Ali of the BSP.
During the discussion of Chandrayaan 3 success, Bidhuri’s remarks calling Danish Ali a terrorist, militant etc triggered an uproar in the House with opposition leaders demanding strong action against him. On Monday, BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri met party’s President JP Nadda.
Nonetheless, Ramesh Bidhuri’s appointment comes amid speculation that Congress leader Sachin Pilot would be contesting from the Tonk constituency in the upcoming assembly election. Notably, Tonk is Sachin Pilot’s stronghold. The Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election is scheduled to be carried out in or before November of this year to elect representatives for the 200-member house.
Previously, speaking on Bidhuri’s remarks, BSP MP Danish Ali expressed that he will now see if the BJP is taking any action against Bidhuri or if he will be promoted and included in the central cabinet of ministers, adding that maybe it has become a competition among BJP leaders to make such statements not just outside but even inside Parliament.
Danish Ali added that when this is the condition of an elected member like him then what will be the condition of a common people. He voiced that he hopes that he will get justice and the Speaker will conduct an enquiry or else he will leave the Parliament with a heavy heart as this can not be tolerated. He further mentioned that the party did not only insult him and his followers but also insulted the whole nation.
As per reports, when the incident took place, Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla took cognizance of the matter and cautioned the BJP member for his remarks in the House, adding that strict action would be taken against him if he repeats such behaviour in future.
India News
Happy Birthday Manmohan Singh: PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi, Stalin, Kharge greet ex PM Manmohan Singh on his 91st birthday
Rahul Gandhi posted on X former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh Ji’s economic upliftment of the masses, unwavering commitment to nation building and integrity will always remain an inspiration for him. He wished him happiness and good health on his birthday.
PM Narendra Modi, Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge greeted ex PM Manmohan Singh on his 91 st birthday. PM Modi took to X (Formerly twitter) and wrote birthday wishes to former PM Dr Manmohan Singh Ji. He prayed for his good health and long life. Kharge wrote on X (formerly twitter) he extended his best wishes to former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh ji. He is a rare example of grace, dignity and grace in politics. Kharge said the nation is grateful for his tremendous contribution to the nation.
Rahul Gandhi posted on X former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh Ji’s economic upliftment of the masses, unwavering commitment to nation building and integrity will always remain an inspiration for him. He wished him happiness and good health on his birthday.
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra greeted Singh on his birthday. She wished Manmohan Singh Ji a very very Happy Birthday. She said as a leader he showed her the value of humility and patience in politics. She added as a Prime Minister his wisdom, vision, courage and his honesty made the way for the country to move ahead in the 21st century with pride and self assurance. She said she always had deep respect for him.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin greeted Manmohan Singh on his birthday. He wrote on X (formerly twitter) birthday greetings to former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh! As PM his leadership during the global financial crises and his commitment to inclusive policies reshaped India’s future. He said his humble, intellectual and composed approach serves as an example and provides valuable lessons for leadership in every era. His legacy of stability and progress endures. Dr Manmohan Singh was the two time Prime Minister during the 2004 to 2014. He attended the Parliament’s Special Session on a wheel chair.
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Lok Sabha elections 2024: AIADMK cuts ties with BJP, NDA, to contest alone
AIADMK deputy coordinator K P Munusamy stated that the state leadership of the BJP has been continuously making unnecessary remarks about their former leaders, their general secretary EPS and their cadres for the past one year.
In a major setback to the BJP-led NDA ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the AIADMK on Monday announced that it is breaking the alliance with the BJP. The AIADMK unanimously passed a party resolution in this regard.
Announcing the decision, AIADMK deputy coordinator K P Munusamy said the BJP state leadership has been continuously making unnecessary remarks about their former leaders, their general secretary Edapaddi Palaniswami and their cadres for the past one year.
The decision to part ways follows months of speculation over the strained relationship between the AIADMK and the BJP. Notably, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai had repeatedly commented against AIADMK leaders and that did not earn him any wrath as the BJP was seemingly okay with Annamalai’s assault on the AIADMK leadership.
As far as reports are concerned, even though the AIADMK’s relationship with Annamalai had not been smooth for more than a year, the latter’s observations on DMK founder CN Annadurai, the AIADMK is a breakway from the DMK and founded by MG Ramachandran after Annadurai’s death, for the last couple of weeks had provoked the latest round of spat between the two parties.
AIADMK spokesperson D Jayakumar termed Annamalai a destructive pest for his comments on Annadurai and this back and forth between the two allies clouded their future. The decision was welcomed by AIADMK party workers and they celebrated the announcement by bursting crackers in Chennai.
This break-up was developing in the background when Palaniswami met Amit Shah on September 14. Following that, an AIADMK delegation made a trip to Delhi where they are believed to have discussed the alliance issue with BJP chief JP Nadda and BJP leader Piyush Goyal.
As per reports, these trips did not come up with any positive results as the BJP national leadership did not intervene in the state-level feud. Meanwhile, the AIADMK is not part of the opposition bloc Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, which is supported by the DMK. The AIADMK affirmed on Monday that it will lead a separate front in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
