Nationalist Congress Party-Sharad Pawar (NCP-SP) MP Supriya Sule recently addressed the issue of election recounts in Baramati, expressing her disagreement with losing candidate Yugendra Pawar’s request for a vote recount.
“It is my personal view that Yugendra Pawar should not ask for the recounting of the votes. Therefore, I asked him to withdraw the application for recounting, and he has done so,” Sule stated.
Having won four consecutive elections conducted via Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), Sule voiced her confidence in their reliability. “When I got elected four times by voting through EVMs, how can I claim there is a scam in it?” she asked.
However, she acknowledged broader concerns about electoral processes, particularly questions regarding the voters’ list. “Many people are saying there are a lot of questions about the voters’ list,” Sule noted, emphasizing the need for transparency.
Sule suggested that the voting method—whether EVMs or ballot papers—is secondary to the transparency of the process. “If things are done transparently, be it EVMs or ballots, then what is the issue? If people prefer elections using ballot papers, then let it be done that way. What is the problem?”
Supreme Court to Hear Plea on EVM Scrutiny
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing in January 2025 on a plea seeking verification and scrutiny of EVMs used in the Haryana Assembly elections. The plea, filed by former Haryana Cabinet Minister Karan Singh Dalal and co-petitioner Lakhan Kumar Singla, raises concerns over EVM reliability and requests protocols for examining their components.
The petition specifically seeks a policy for EVM verification, focusing on the microcontroller and memory of the Control Unit, Ballot Unit, VVPAT, and Symbol Loading Unit. Senior advocate Maninder Singh, representing the Election Commission of India (ECI), informed the bench that a similar plea was previously withdrawn, prompting the Chief Justice to direct its listing for January 2025.
Key Takeaways
- Supriya Sule supports EVMs but stresses transparency in electoral processes.
- The Supreme Court is set to hear a plea advocating detailed scrutiny of EVMs and their components.
- The debate reflects ongoing public and political concerns over electoral integrity.