Tue Nov 26 12:36:04 UTC 2024: ## Congress Demands Return to Ballot Papers After Maharashtra Election Loss
**New Delhi** – Following a crushing defeat in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge has called for a nationwide campaign to abolish Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and revert to ballot papers. His demand, echoed by Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole, comes a day after the Supreme Court dismissed a petition seeking the same.
Kharge, speaking at a Delhi rally, argued that the use of EVMs disenfranchises poor and marginalized communities. He suggested a campaign similar to Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra to pressure for the change. Patole also rejected the Maharashtra election results, citing widespread public suspicion of EVM manipulation and a lack of response to concerns about vote discrepancies.
The Congress party, which secured only 16 seats in Maharashtra compared to the BJP’s 132, believes that a mass movement is the only way to address what they perceive as systemic issues with EVMs. This follows earlier allegations of EVM tampering in the Haryana elections.
The Election Commission has repeatedly defended the integrity of EVMs, asserting their security and robustness. However, the Congress’s renewed push for ballot papers highlights the deep distrust amongst some parties following recent electoral setbacks. The party’s call for a nationwide campaign promises to further escalate the ongoing debate surrounding the use of EVMs in Indian elections.
First Piper 