Match VVPAT slips with EVM count

The Aam Admi Party (AAP) on Thursday demanded the Election Commission (EC) to order matching of votes counted via EVMs and through VVPAT machines not just in Punjab where it lost election but also in Uttar Pradesh where the party did not contested.

The issue of possible tempering with EVMs was first raised by BSP chief Mayawati and later by outgoing Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

“It’s simple. VVPAT were used in 32 seats in Punjab election and 20 seats in Uttar Pradesh. All slips out of VVPAT are with election commission and can be matched with EVM count to make things clear,” said Sanjay Singh, national spokesperson, AAP. He was here to attend the party convention.

He also announced that AAP will take part in local body elections in UP.

“Many countries such as US, Japan and Germany have stopped using EVM and the government and EC should think on this,” said Sanjay adding: “Senior BJP leader LK Advani had himself written preface of a book stating how VVPAT were made mandatory in many states in the US.” Criticising the BJP for forming government in Manipur and Goa, Sanjay, who is also the in charge for AAP’s Uttar Pradesh unit, said, “BJP entered in to these states via unethical means. The largest party should be called first to form government as it was done in case of Atal Bihari Vajpayee even as it was known that the Vajpayee government formed then will topple for sure.”

He said in Punjab party got 22-seats against the expected 90 or 100 seats but this means we were able to push back the Akalis who had been there since 100 years. “Congress has made promises for jobs and development. If they fail to fulfill promises we will struggle in Punjab to get them implemented,” he said.