Chintan Shivir: Congress manifesto to call for EVM ban, reintroduce the paper ballots
Udaipur (Rajasthan), May 15: The Congress leaders participating in the party's Chintan Shivir on Sunday agreed to include in the party's manifesto the removal of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) from the electoral system while also vowing to reintroduce the paper ballots if the party comes to power at the Centre.
Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan stressed the importance for the party to win the Assembly polls that are lined up before the commencement of the Lok Sabha polls in 2024.
Chavan said, "We had discussions over the issue of the EVM tampering. But it's my personal opinion that filing petitions or urging won't compel PM Modi to change it. There is only one way, that is to defeat him. We will have to write in our manifesto that if we come to power at the Centre, we would stop the use of EVMs and get back to the ballot papers."
"There are 12 Assembly elections before the Lok Sabha polls in 2024. Facing the Lok Sabha polls would be difficult until we win these polls," he said.
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Talking about the impact of the Chintan Shivir on the Congress party, the leader said that its conduct itself has enabled the party leaders from across the country to gather and share the issues pertaining to the organisation in various states.
"The conduct of the Shivir in itself is big because we could not meet each other for two years. The top Congress leaders from across the country met and put forward their views," Chavan added.
Earlier in the day, the Shivir discussed the issue of EVMs during the brainstorming sessions over the poll debacles in the recent elections.
According to sources, a presentation was given at the Shivir about the possibility of EVM hacking, which the Opposition parties have previously raised concerns about.
During the first two days of the three-day Shivir, the party's strategy for finding winning ways was discussed.
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-PTC News
