Not allowing for 100 per cent VVPATs is 'terrible anyay' on Indian voter: Congress

Jairam Ramesh. File Pic

Calling for greater accountability in using technology in conduct of polls, the Congress on Wednesday questioned the Election Commission's "reluctance" to engage with INDIA parties over their demand that the number of VVPATs prescribed be steadily increased towards 100 per cent, reported news agency PTI.

The opposition party also said that not allowing for 100 per cent VVPATs is a "terrible injustice" on the Indian voter.

In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) parties have been requesting for an appointment to meet the Election Commission since June 2023 on the issue of the greater use of VVPATs (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) in the election process.

"Not allowing for 100 per cent VVPATs is a terrible ANYAY on the Indian voter," he said.

On April 8, 2019, the Supreme Court had requested the EC to increase the number of election booths that undergo VVPAT slip matching, he noted.

"The case is N. Chandrababu Naidu vs Union of India '? yes, the same Chandrababu Naidu who was once known as the high-tech Chief Minister. Mr. Naidu was then the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh," Ramesh said.

The demand of the INDIA parties is that the number of VVPATs prescribed cannot be static but must increase steadily increased towards a 100 per cent, he asserted.

"The reluctance of the ECI to engage with the INDIA parties on this issue raises even more questions. Shouldn't the ECI strive for greater accountability and transparency in a technology that it stands by so wholeheartedly?" Ramesh said.

"But of course, Mr Naidu is about to migrate into the NDA, in the meanwhile. Maybe he can convince the Election Commission to give his erstwhile allies an appointment," the Congress general secretary said.

Meanwhile, Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi will file on Wednesday her nomination papers for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls from Rajasthan, party sources said, reported news agency PTI.

It will be the 77-year-old leader's first term in the Upper House after serving five terms as a Lok Sabha MP.

Congress sources said party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi's son Rahul Gandhi and daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are likely to accompany her to Jaipur for filing her papers, reported PTI.

Gandhi, who represented Rae Bareli in Lok Sabha, will not contest the next general elections. She has been a five-term Lok Sabha MP and was first elected in 1999 after taking over as the Congress president.

(With inputs from PTI)