Ajit questions use of EVMs, wants ballot system in Maha polls

Stating that people have doubts that EVMs can be tampered with, senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar Thursday said the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly polls should be held using ballot papers to ensure that "democracy remains intact" and citizen's trust is not breached.

Pawar had in May this year said that he had "no doubt" about the functioning of the electronic voting machines (EVMs). A month later, he had also questioned the criticism of the EVMs and asked NCP workers to focus on preparing for the state elections instead of blaming the machines.

The Assembly polls are due in September-October this year.

"People have doubts that the EVMs can be tampered with technically. The Election Commission should hold the Maharashtra Assembly polls using ballot papers to see the democracy remains intact and the trust of the people is not breached. Elections are held in developed countries using ballot papers only," Pawar tweeted.

Other opposition parties like the Congress and the MNS, too, have been demanding that the Assembly polls be held using ballot papers.