Congress MP Manish Tewari initiated the discussion, expressing concerns about transparency related to electronic voting machines (EVMs) and issues surrounding the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
“I do not claim that EVMs are manipulated, but there are public apprehensions about the potential for manipulation… To date, I have not received an answer to my question – Who possesses the source code for the EVMs?” he queried.
Tewari emphasized that democracy is built on trust and called for either complete VVPAT counting or the use of paper ballots. With elections approaching in six states, he insisted that paper ballots should be utilized so that “the truth is clearly revealed.”
Akhilesh Yadav supports paper ballot requests
SP MP Akhilesh Yadav echoed the call for paper ballots, highlighting the fatalities among officials conducting the SIR exercise.
“Elections should utilize ballot papers as many concerns have been raised regarding electronic devices,” Yadav stated.
“So far, 10 booth level officers (BLOs) have lost their lives during the current SIR process. We demand that the families of the deceased BLOs receive
₹1 crore as an ex-gratia payment and that one family member of each deceased be offered a government job,” he added.
‘EC lacks legal authority for SIR’
Tewari also addressed the neutrality of the Election Commission (EC) and its legal authority to conduct the SIR exercise in various states.
“It is with regret that I mention the Special Intensive Revision (of electoral rolls) is a topic of discussion nationwide. The SIR is occurring in several states, but I responsibly assert that the EC lacks legal authority to conduct SIR,” Tewari noted.
“There is no constitutional or legal provision for SIR. The EC can only correct electoral rolls in specific constituencies when documented issues arise and made public. Conducting SIR across the entirety of Bihar or Kerala is not permissible,” he remarked.
‘Revise the election commissioners’ appointment law’
The Congress leader asserted that the first election reform needed in the country is to amend the 2023 law governing the selection of the chief election commissioner and election commissioners.
This law currently involves a panel consisting of the Prime Minister, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, and a cabinet minister. Tewari suggested the addition of two members: the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and the Chief Justice of India.
“If such a committee is formed, then ‘theek se khela hobega’ and it will play a crucial role in alleviating doubts regarding the Election Commission (EC),” Tewari concluded.
