EC to demonstrate remote EVM to parties on Monday; Oppn won't support, says Congress

The leaders of several opposition parties on Sunday met in Delhi to discuss the Election Commission's proposal on remote electronic voting machine (RVM). The Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party and the Nationalist Congress Party, however, gave the meeting a miss. 

Talking to reporters after the meeting senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh said most of the parties opposed the poll panel's proposal as it is “sketchy and not concrete”. Singh said there are huge political anomalies in the proposal for remote voting machine with things like the definition of migrant labourers not clear.

Those attended the meeting included leaders of the JD(U), Shiv Sena, RJD, CPI, CPI(M), National Conference, JMM, RSP, IUML and VCK.

Singh said they will raise the issue of exact number of migrant labourers and the supplier of the chip in the RVM machine with the Election Commission.

CPI leader D. Raja said they will meet the Commission on Monday to raise their concerns. The opposition leaders will meet again on January 25 to discuss the issue.

The meeting came a day before the Election Commission showcases the remote electronic voting machine (RVM) prototype for migrant voters to representatives of political parties.

The poll panel has invited eight recognised national parties and 57 recognised state parties for a demonstration on Monday morning.