Agartala, March 31 CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury on Tuesday urged State Election Commissioner Manoj Kumar to use EVMs with VVPAT in the upcoming elections to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).
The elections for the 28 seats of the tribal council will be held on April 12, and the counting is scheduled for April 17.
In a letter to the SEC, Chaudhury said, "From the FLC (First Level Checking) of EVMs conducted by various Returning Officers, it reveals that you have decided to use old EVM sets without attaching any VVPAT."
"You are aware that there is a nationwide controversy about the accurate functioning of the EVMs, and many renowned software engineers publicly say that EVMs may be hacked. Despite that, voters place their trust in EVMs when VVPAT is attached," he said.
Chaudhury said that though assembly elections are in progress in several states, there should not be any shortage of updated EVM machines with VVPAT sets with the Election Commission.
"Therefore, I appeal that EVMs should not be used without VVPAT in the election. The election must be held with updated EVM machines attached with VVPAT in all polling booths," he stated.
Chaudhury also demanded the registration of an FIR against Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma for his comment at a rally in Khowai district.
Addressing the rally at Bachaibari Community Hall on April 28, Debbarma had said, "Anybody who casts his vote for Tipra Motha will be voting in favour of the BJP."
Chaudhury claimed the statement is tantamount to an expression of distrust and disrespect to the electoral process.