A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, law and Justice headed by Deputy leader of Congress in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma is presently examining the subject ‘electoral reforms’. The 31-member panel headed by Sharma has 21 members from the lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha. The panel also may examine the functioning of EVMS.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) had earlier this week discussed with 53 political parties on electoral reforms and use of EVMs. Confronted with allegations of EVM tampering, the ECI has decided to soon throw an “open challenge” to test the infallibility of EVMs in a next few days.
“In this process the Committee may inter-alia examine the functioning of Electronic Voting Machine system and its Up-gradation taking Cognizance of International Experience and Best Practices; Electoral funding; the prevalent as well as the alternative voting systems, etc. The Committee has decided to solicit memoranda thereon within 15 days after publication of the advertisement to this effect,” sources said.
The issue of tampering and manipulation of EVMs of was earlier raised by Opposition parties in Parliament, particularly in Rajya Sabha, amid intense sparring between members of the treasury and the Opposition. The issue was raised in the backdrop of election results in five states in which BJP formed government in four. The issue has seen parties like Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Congress and Aam Admi Party raising doubts about the EVMs.
Sources said the Committee is likely to ask senior officials from the Election Commission of India (ECI) and Ministry of Personnel and Public Grievances soon to take a view on the tamperability of EVMs.
“Those who are willing to appear before the Committee for oral evidence, may indicate so in their memorandum. The Committee’s decision in this regard shall be however, final. The memoranda submitted to the Committee shall be treated as confidential,” sources said.
AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal was the first politicians who alleged that rigged voting machines transferred his party’s votes to the SAD-BJP combine in Punjab. BSP chief Mayawati also echoed the similar views on the tampering of voting machines in UP. A delegation of 16 opposition parties had met ECI officials on this issue. BSP and Trinamool Congress have demanded the ECI to conduct elections on ballot papers.