Don’t want EVMs: Cong chief bats for return of ballot paper
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday called for a Bharat Jodo Yatra-like campaign to press for the return of ballot papers in the elections.
“I do not wish to speak about elections, but I would surely say that the votes of the poor and oppressed communities are being wasted. They should all demand voting by ballot paper,” Kharge said while speaking at the Samvidhan Rakshak Abhiyaan function organised by the Congress’ SC department at Talkatora Stadium here.
Kharge’s call came close on the heels of the Congress’ dismal performance in the recent Assembly elections in Maharashtra and also in Haryana where the party lost to the BJP despite huge expectations of a thumping win.
Haryana Congress leaders had alleged manipulation in the EVMs following the shock defeat. The Congress had levelled similar charges after losing the elections in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
“Let them keep EVMs with them. We want voting on ballot paper. Then they will know what their position is and where they stand,” Kharge said on Tuesday. He called for a nationwide campaign similar to the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra to push for the return of the ballot paper.
Speaking at the event, Rahul reiterated the demand for a caste-based census, underlining its importance in addressing systemic inequalities.
Post Haryana, Maha losses, CWC meet on Nov 29
- The Congress has called a meeting of the Congress Working Committee on November 29. The meeting follows the party’s defeat in Haryana in October and in Maharashtra last week.
- The letter sent out by Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal stated that the current political situation would be discussed in the CWC meeting.
- In view of the Parliament session, ways to corner the government on the Adani issue are likely to be discussed. The CWC is also expected to deliberate on the preparations for the Assembly polls in Delhi and Bihar to be held next year.
