Prakash Ambedkar: VBA to Initiate 'Anti-EVM Movement' Beginning Tuesday
Click to start listening
Mumbai, Dec 2 (NationPress) The Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) is gearing up to launch a comprehensive, fortnight-long initiative across the state that will oppose Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and advocate for a reinstatement of ballot paper voting, as disclosed by a prominent party leader on Monday.
VBA President Prakash Ambedkar announced that the campaign will commence with a large-scale signature collection drive throughout Maharashtra from December 3 to 16, after which the movement will progressively escalate in the following months.
Ambedkar emphasized, "In the latest state Assembly elections, numerous complaints have arisen regarding the EVMs, raising concerns about the integrity and transparency of the electoral process. We urge the public to rally behind our cause and actively participate in the campaign."
He highlighted that his movement against EVMs began two decades ago (2004) through public awareness initiatives, media events, and legal actions, and is now being revitalized following the November 2024 state Assembly elections.
As part of the initiative, VBA local party members, officials, and allies will take to the streets to gather signatures from the public to demand a return to the previous ballot voting system that was replaced by EVMs, as stated by a party representative in Mumbai.
"Numerous objections have been raised against EVMs, including allegations of malpractice, vote rigging, and complaints that citizens' votes are not being accurately counted for their chosen party or candidate, leading to widespread distrust regarding the effectiveness and credibility of the EVMs," he added.
Following the announcement of the election results on November 23, nearly all opposition factions, including the Maha Vikas Aghadi's Congress-Nationalist Congress Party-Shiv Sena (UBT), Communist Party of India (Marxist), Prahar Janshakti Party, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, Bahujan Vikash Aghadi, and the VBA, have cast doubt on the results that favored the MahaYuti coalition of Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party-Nationalist Congress Party.
Prominent leaders such as Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, Nana Patole, Supriya Sule, Jayant R. Patil, M. Arif Naseem Khan, Priyanka Chaturvedi, Sanjay Raut, Clyde Crasto, Kishore Tiwari, Ashok Dhawale, Bachhu Kadu, Raj Thackeray, and many others have voiced strong objections against EVMs.
On Saturday, a 96-year-old social activist, Dr. Babasaheb Pandurang Adhav, known as Baba Adhav, concluded a three-day hunger strike advocating for the reinstatement of ballot papers to enhance transparency in the election process and provide 'proof' of voting, stating, "to preserve the Constitution and democracy."
Approximately 22 defeated candidates from various political factions have filed complaints with the Maharashtra State Election Commission (M-SEC), alleging electoral malpractice and requesting a recount of the votes cast.
Last week, the Congress also declared a state-wide anti-EVM campaign starting with signature drives, with plans to submit these petitions to the President, Prime Minister, and Election Commission of India.
