All future elections will be held on VVPAT: Nasim Zaidi

The Election Commission of India (ECI) held a meeting with all recognised national and state political parties today at Constitution Club here to discuss the following issues

(i) EVMs and VVPATs.

(ii) Making Bribery in Elections a Cognizable Offence.

(iii) Disqualification on Framing of Charges for the Offence of Bribery in Elections

(iv) Suggestions on VVPAT Recount Rules.

Seven national parties and 35 state parties attended the meeting.

In his inaugural address, Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi underlined the contribution of all political parties and stated that systemic improvements and progressive measures aimed at improving the electoral processes and systems have been evolved by the Commission in cooperation with all political parties.

The CEC referred the queries raised by some political parties about the incidents of alleged EVM manipulation at Bhind and Dholpur during the recently concluded bye-elections, and reiterated that baseless perceptions were generated about these incidents and there was no case of biased vote results.

The Commission highlighted the wide range of technical, administrative protocol and procedural safeguards that fortify the EVMs and VVPATs against any sort of manipulation or tampering. He said the Commission is open to hear suggestions on how to further improve integrity and credibility of EVMs.

The CEC also informed the political representatives that the Commission will hold a challenge and offer opportunity to political parties to demonstrate that EVMs used in the recently concluded Assemblies elections were tampered or that EVMs can be tampered even under the laid down Technical and administrative safeguards.

The CEC stated that the Commission will ensure 100 percent coverage of VVPATs in all future election to the Parliament and state assembly elections.

That VVPATs slips of a percentage of EVMs to be determined by ECI will be counted.

The ECI will soon evolve a framework in this regard. To make the election process more transparent, the Commission has made proposal for electoral reforms on misuse of money power and bribery during elections. The Commission has also made proposal for amendments in the Income Tax Act and in the RP Act, 1951, for enhancing transparency in the funding of political parties.

Zaidi urged the political parties to ensure their continuous and qualitative participation at all crucial preparatory steps for elections like FLC, Randomization of EVM/VVPAT/Polling personnel, EVM Preparation/candidate setting, Mock Poll, EVM Sealing etc.

The CEC also stressed that continuous involvement is the shared responsibility of all the stakeholders including the political parties.

The CEC conveyed neutral stand and equidistance of the Election Commission of India from all political parties as it has no favourite which has enhanced India's reputation in the eyes of Global Community.

A detailed presentation on EVM was presented Director General of ECI Sudeep Jain explaining therein its secured design feature, development process, stakeholders' participation at various levels, and administrative processes making the EVMs secure.

The representatives of the political parties presented their views and suggestions on each of the agenda items.

Commission assured the political parties that their concerns and apprehensions regarding EVMs have been taken note of and would be duly considered and addressed through forthcoming challenge and further necessary actions.

In respect of other Electoral Reforms, their views/suggestions would be examined and further action would be initiated appropriately.