Ensure VVPAT machines are used in Gujarat polls as per SC order: Congress to EC

The Congress on Friday urged the Election Commission (EC) to implement the Supreme Court directions on the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) along with paper trail for free and fair assembly elections in Gujarat.

A Congress delegation, comprising Ahmed Patel, Madhusudan Mistry, Deepak Babaria, Vivek Tankha, Randeep Singh Surjewala, Arjun Modwadia and Siddharth Patel, met the EC with a list of demands.

The Congress leaders stressed the need to have high quality printers and papers to be used in Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines to avoid any manipulation of paper trails during elections.

They also demanded the final voter list be given to political parties before the election notification is issued and at least 15 days be given for inclusion of names, amendments, transposition, or deletion of entries.

The delegation said it was imperative to have unbiased officials as observers since the Gujarat elections are crucial in many ways.

“The Congress seeks extra vigilance about the posting of observers,” said the delegation.

The party also urged the poll panel to instruct the observers to respond and take action on complaints.