Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee has demanded implementation of voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) system in the upcoming state assembly elections.
The delegation which comprised Congress's members of Legislative Council (MLCs) Sanjay Dutt, Sharad Ranpise, Congress spokesman Sachin Sawant and party general secretary Yashwant Happe met Maharashtra State Chief Electoral Officer Nitin Gadre and submitted a memorandum of their demands.
Congress cited a directive by the Supreme Court asking the Election Commission to introduce a paper trail in EVMs, in a phased manner, so as to ensure free and fair polls.
The VVPAT system acknowledges a vote being cast with a paper slip receipt after the EVM button is pressed.
"We've demanded that the system be introduced for the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections and if it is not possible, then then ballot system be re-introduced," Sawant said.
He said that a clarification has also been sought on the need to borrow EVMs from Uttar Pradesh.
"Lok Sabha elections were held in Maharashtra and there are enough electronic voting machines here. So why borrow machines from Uttar Pradesh?" he asked.
