On December 19, the INDIA bloc of parties had passed a resolution, noting that INDIA events have submitted an in depth memorandum to the ECI with “several specific questions on the design and operation of the EVMs”. “Unfortunately, the ECI has been reluctant to meet an INDIA delegation on this memorandum,” the decision acknowledged.

“Our suggestion is simple: Instead of the VVPAT slip falling in the box, it should be handed over to the voter who shall then place it in a separate ballot box after having verified his or her choice. 100% counting of VVPAT slips should then be done,” the decision learn.

“I once again make a request for an opportunity for a 3-4 member team of INDIA party leaders to meet with you and your colleagues and take a few minutes to put forward our point of view on VVPATs. Surely, this is put forward is a perfectly reasonable and legitimate,” Ramesh mentioned.

This comes after a collection of requests by the INDIA bloc to satisfy members of the EC, in response to Ramesh.

“On August 9, 2023, a memorandum had been submitted to the ECI on EVM- related concerns of INDIA parties. This was supported with several requests – on August 9, 2023, August 10, 2023, August 16, 2023, August 18, 2023, and August 23, 2023, – for a meeting of an INDIA Parties’ delegation with the ECI. On August 23, 2023, ECI issued a clarification to our counsel on the memorandum,” he acknowledged.

The EC has revised and expanded its Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) web page to deal with the doubts raised — together with how Indian EVMs are completely different from those banned in Germany; if VVPATs have a programmable reminiscence; and if EVM producers share software program with overseas microchip-makers. As The Indian Express had reported earlier, the EC had responded to the alliance over its issues, citing the revised FAQs on EVMs uploaded in August.

Ramesh, in his letter, acknowledged, “This clarification was generic in nature and (1) directed us to refer to the standard FAQs on EVMS available on the ECI website; (ii) explained the legal backing for EVMs through Section 61A of the Representation of Peoples’ Act, 1951; (iii) summarised the judgments of the High Courts and the Supreme Court on the issue of EVMs; (iv) provided a chart of assembly and parliamentary election results since 2004 to show that the political party winning the maximum number of seats changed several times. However, there was no meeting or hearing provided to the INDIA Parties delegation despite repeated requests.”

The Congress chief added that “no response was received” on a follow-up illustration despatched on October 2, 2023, by the INDIA bloc over particular issues that “remained unaddressed”.