Congress wants VVPATs, warns of court route in ward demarcation not transparent
While Wadettiwar targeted the SEC, Congress state chief Harshvardhan Sapkal wrote to the state's Urban Development Department and Rural Development department, which are currently engaged in the exercise of demarcation of wards.
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Sapkal mentioned that the party will be forced to approach the courts if the department fails to ensure transparency in the process. "It will be the sole responsibility of the State government if that happens," he said.
Demanding the use of VVPAT machines in local body polls and transparency in the exercise of demarcation of ward boundaries, opposition Congress on Wednesday targeted the State Election commission and state government.
“The state election commissioner clarified that there will be no VVPAT machines in the upcoming local body elections in the state. The reason given for this is that there will be more candidates in one ward, voters will have to cast four votes at a time, so the process will take time and there is a possibility of crowding at the polling station. But VVPAT is necessary for the elections to be held in a transparent manner. Voters should know who they voted for,” said Congress legislative leader Vijay Wadettiwar.
He demanded that local body elections in the state should not be held without VVPAT machines. “If these machines are not available, elections should be held on ballot papers,” he said.
While Wadettiwar targeted the SEC, Congress state chief Harshvardhan Sapkal wrote to the state’s Urban Development Department and Rural Development department, which are currently engaged in the exercise of demarcation of wards.
In his letter, Sapkal said, “The work of demarcation of ward boundaries is currently undergoing. It is important to ensure that no political interference is entertained in this process…it is important that the staff working in this process should not be subjected to political pressure and the work takes place as per the rules.”
Sapkal mentioned that the party will be forced to approach the courts if the department fails to ensure transparency in the process. “It will be the sole responsibility of the State government if that happens,” he said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Anil Desai on Wednesday also urged the Election Commission to conduct Maharashtra’s upcoming local body elections using ballot papers, citing the absence of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines.
In a letter to the EC, Desai argued that without VVPATs, the transparency and credibility of the election process are compromised. He stated that free and fair elections are not possible without allowing voters to verify their votes, and questioned how voters could be confident in the system without a verifiable paper trail.
Desai also pointed out that in several other states, local body polls are conducted using ballot papers, and Maharashtra should follow suit. He criticised the EC for failing to address concerns raised after the previous assembly elections, and reiterated that voters have the right to know where their vote has been cast.
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