Have faith in EVM, no return of ballot papers in Maharashtra: Ajit Pawar

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday expressed complete faith in electronic voting machines EVMs and asserted the state government does not want the use of ballot papers in pollsIn the past several nonBJP parties including the Congress and the NCP have raised doubts over the reliability of EVMs claiming they are prone to manipulation Interacting with the media here Pawar a senior NCP leader said EVMs work fine but they become target of criticism from losing sides in electionsBefore resigning recently as Maharashtra Assembly speaker Nana Patole now state Congress president had asked the legislature to frame a law to give voters the option of using ballot papers besides EVMs in local governing bodies and Assembly pollsPatole as the speaker had issued the instruction during a meeting held earlier this month after complaints about alleged EVM tampering in polls When asked about Patoles instruction Pawar said Each individual can have a different view They think that way and I have said what I feel about the use of EVMsSpeaking about the governments official stand on the issue Pawar said the MVA dispensation in which the Shiv Sena and the Congress are the other two constituents absolutely does not want the use of ballot papersThe senior NCP leader noted the Congress formed governments in Rajasthan in 2018 and Punjab 2017 even when EVMs were used in the Assembly polls held in the two statesEverything is fine with people in any party if they get majority But they start alleging that EVMs were managed if they get routedEVMs are working fine Work becomes paperless What I can say I have complete faith in EVMs Pawar saidAsked about media reports of a recent forensic study by a USbased firm which claimed that key evidence was planted on computer of an activist arrested in the Elgar ParishadMaoist links case Pawar said he does not have information about itThe deputy chief minister however said the stance of the Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA government is that no innocent person should be troubled in any case Action will be taken against the guilty if any as per the law and the Constitution he saidThe chief minister and key people in the government will take a decision on whether an SIT needs to be formed to probe into the allegation of evidence planting Pawar saidThe deputy chief minister trashed speculation about the BJP and the NCP getting closer after Union Home Minister Amit Shahs visit to the Konkan region a Shiv Sena stronghold on Sunday There is absolutely no truth in it Pawar addedit is a new information that has come to me from the media We will check if something of that sort has happened We will take decisions after doing so examining the information Pawar said sarcasticallyThe NCP leader said no one should pay attention to such discussionsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever