Maharashtra Congress Urges VVPAT Usage for Local Polls
A Maharashtra Congress delegation, led by State Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal, urged the State Election Commissioner to use Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines in upcoming local body elections. They expressed concerns over the Election Commission's neutrality, suggesting that VVPAT usage could enhance electoral transparency.
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The Maharashtra Congress is pushing for the use of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines in the state's local body elections. A delegation met with State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare to discuss the matter, led by state Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal.
Sapkal reiterated concerns raised by party MP Rahul Gandhi regarding 'vote theft', alleging that the election process has been compromised in favor of the ruling party. He emphasized the need for VVPAT machines to ensure transparency and fairness in elections across urban and rural areas, including major cities such as Mumbai and Pune.
The State Election Commission had previously decided against using VVPAT machines, but the Congress delegation is calling for a reconsideration to maintain public trust in the electoral process. VVPAT provides voters an opportunity to verify their votes, potentially reducing allegations of electoral misconduct.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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