Haryana MC POLL 2025: Using EVM sans VVPAT hints at ill intentions of poll panel: Congress

Hours before the state goes to the civic polls in many areas, the Congress has moved the Haryana Governor against the use of EVMs without voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT).

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Calling it a threat to the elections’ credibility, Congress leader Karan Dalal, who is civic election incharge for the party in Gurugram, has accused the State Election Commission of ill intentions.

Dalal, in a letter to the Governor, claimed that, while ideally, the elections should have been held on ballot paper like in Uttarakhand, the commission went on to use EVMs. He strongly objected to non-usage of VVPAT along with EVMs and has sought action against the Election Commission.

“We requested the State Election Commission to switch over to ballot paper while conducting the municipal elections. We quoted the precedence of Uttarakhand also. Unfortunately, it declined the request taking a plea that a provision exists in the Act to use EVMs in municipal election also. However now, we are given to understand that they are allowing use of EVMs without VVPAT. It said that there is a shortage of VVPAT machines. But there are no elections in other parts of the country currently. This only casts doubt on the intention of the State Election Commission,” said Dalal in his letter.

“This will not be a fair, free and transparent election. The State Election Commission is being headed by a retired IAS officer of Haryana and at the mercy of the state government. Therefore, there are reasons to believe that he may try to influence the election by providing leverage to the ruling party,” alleged the letter.

The issue has been taken up by all Congress candidates of Gurugram. “The BJP has lost ground in Gurugram and Manesar and we suspect it will resort to such acts to win. The Governor needs to intervene immediately to ensure transparency of this election,” said local leader Pankaj Dawar.