Assam Polls: Congress urges ECI for VVPAT counting in 20 per cent booths of all LACs 

GUWAHATI: 

The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to take up measures to count VVPATs (voter-verifiable paper audit trails) of at least 20 per cent polling stations in each legislative Assembly constituency (LAC) “in the interest of impartial and transparent counting of votes” on May 2.

According to the existing norm, counting of VVPATs is done for five polling stations per LAC.

In a letter to the chief election commissioner, APCC president Ripun Bora, pointed out that “looting of EVMs, suspicious discovery of EVMs in many places, malfunctioning of EVMs, etc” have taken place, for which the commission had to issue an order for re-polls in four polling stations under three LACs.

ALSO READ: Assam: Double COVID-19 mutant strain found in Dibrugarh Airport

“Therefore, in the interest of impartial and transparent counting of votes, our Congress party urges upon you for passing suitable instruction to all concerned for taking up the counting of VVPAT of at least 20 per cent polling stations for each LAC instead of counting of VVPAT only for five polling stations per LAC,” Bora stated.

”I sincerely believe that to build up confidence in the minds of people and to prevent, if any, manipulation or malfunctioning in case of EVMs, the counting of VVPATs of 20 per cent polling stations in each LAC will be a landmark decision in the coming days for strengthening parliamentary democracy and to ensure fault-free counting,” he added.

It may be mentioned that Congress had earlier demanded access to CCTV surveillance across strong rooms to all contesting candidates in the state for greater transparency and to curb any malpractice before vote counting day on May 2.

TNT-The Northeast Today is now on WhatsApp: CLICK HERE to receive more updates on your phone.