BJP's Prasad says reverting to paper ballot system means return to booth capturing

New Delhi, Dec 10 (PTI) Amid a push by opposition parties to revert to paper ballot elections, senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday hit back, saying it would mean going back to the days of booth capturing.

Participating in a debate in Lok Sabha on 'election reforms', the former Union law minister said the opposition should not talk of returning to the old ballot paper system. There are at least two dozen Supreme Court and high court judgments validating the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs), he said.

Prasad recalled that the Election Commission had invited parties to hack EVMs in its presence, but none turned up. "Now they are raising a hue and cry (against EVMs)," he said.

Prasad also noted that after the recent Bihar elections, "not one plea" was received to check the micro-controllers of EVMs.

To boost voters' confidence, a mandatory verification of voter verifiable paper audit trails unit (VVPAT) slips was held for five randomly-selected polling stations per assembly constituency, but no discrepancy was found with the EVM count anywhere in Bihar, he said.

The government has repeatedly ruled out going back to the ballot paper system as EVMs have made the election process faster and safer, Prasad said.

The EVMs crossed an important milestone in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls -- of being used in five parliamentary polls since 2004, he added.

Prasad lashed out at the Congress for levelling allegations of ‘vote chori’ ahead of the Bihar elections but not filing a single complaint to buttress its claims after the results.

The BJP leader said the Election Commission has been mandated to conduct elections and take all incidental steps to ensure clean elections.

Prasad said Rahul Gandhi's campaign during the Bihar elections, riding a motorcycle along with his sister Priyanka Vadra, sent a message of the good quality of roads in the state.

"The motorcycle ride was very good. The brother-sister duo riding a motorcycle, wearing helmets, touring Bihar, sent two messages -- the brother and sister love each other. Congratulations. And the quality of roads in Bihar is very good," Prasad said.

He questioned why the Congress did not file a single complaint to corroborate its claims of 'vote theft after the Bihar election results.

Prasad also slammed the opposition for questioning the now-scrapped electoral bonds scheme, which he claimed was the first step to clean up electoral funding.

"Regional parties too have got good funds through electoral bonds … BJD in Odisha, TMC in West Bengal, Bharat Rashtra Samithi …. A political party will get funds as per its standing," Prasad said.

The BJP leader said there was a time when he was a struggling political activist who would be elated even if someone made a contribution of Rs 50.

"But here, people who are not present in the market are talking of a level-playing field. I would urge the Congress party to work hard, win people's trust and the rest will follow. But, there appears to be no sign of this," Prasad said, referring to the Congress.

"Stop blaming the EC out of your frustration... strengthen your organisation... but don't worry... we are going to rule for another 15-20 years... on the back of our work," the former Union Minister said, addressing the opposition benches. PTI NAB SKU RT RT