APCC president Ripun Bora moves ECI for 20% VVPAT counting per constituency

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The president of APCC (Assam Pradesh Congress Committee), Ripun Bora has moved the CEC (Chief Election Commissioner), Election Commission of India, with a request for taking up 20% VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) counting per LAC (Legislative Assembly Constituency) against the existing norm of VVPAT counting for five polling stations per LAC.

The letter says, "It is on record that the polling of General Election to the Assam Legislative Assembly (ALA) completed peacefully without any major untoward incident for which the role of Election Commission of India is really commendable."

Bora further said, "I would like to bring to your notice that in the three phases of recently concluded election of Assam Legislative Assembly, a number of incidents like looting of EVM (Electronic Voting Machines); suspicious discovery of EVMs in many places — even in the car of a sitting BJP MLA of Ratabari LAC; malfunctioning of EVMs etc., took place. For these reasons, the Election Commission had to issue order for re-poll in four places under three different LACs.

"Therefore, in the interest of impartial and transparent counting of votes, our Congress party urges you for passing suitable instructions to all concerned for taking up counting of VVPAT of at least 20% of polling stations for each LAC instead of counting of VVPAT only for five polling stations per LAC.

"I sincerely believe that in order to build up the confidence in the minds of people to the Election Commission of India and to prevent any manipulation or malfunctioning in case of EVMs, the counting of VVPAT of 20% polling stations in each LAC will be a landmark decision in the coming days for strengthening Parliamentary Democracy and to ensure fault-free counting."

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