Political parties divided over reverting back to ballot paper
New Delhi, Aug 27: Political parties were divided on reverting back to ballot paper in place of EVMs in elections and holding simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and Assemblies at an all-party meeting convened by the Election Commission that also discussed state funding.
The meeting of all the recognised national and state parties was convened to discuss the fidelity of electoral rolls, election expenditure regulation and inclusion of print media in the election campaign silence period.
Chief Election Commissioner O.P Rawat said the Commission would take a call on all the issues raised by parties including on EVMs and ballot paper, integrity of electoral rolls and ceiling on expenditure by political parties.
"There will be a satisfactory solution to the issues," he told reporters after the meeting.
Parties like the Congress, CPI, Trinamool Congress, BSP and DMK said that there should be return to ballot papers while the BJP and BJD said they were satisfied with electronic voting machines (EVMs).
The CPI-M said there should be more safeguards in the present process of voting. The AAP said either the count to verify electronic voting machine (EVM) results with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) should be increased or there should be a return to ballot paper while the AIADMK said it was fine both with EVMs and ballot paper.
Talking to reporters, Congress leader Mukul Wasnik said the party supported "the demand of using ballot paper in the election in the present situation." He said malfunctioning of EVMs was a major issue.
"VVPATs were introduced but are not being cross-checked. We demanded that at least 30 per cent of the votes should be cross-checked," Wasnik said.
He said more transparency was required in the voters list as a number of cases had surfaced in the recent past where lakhs and lakhs of bogus voters were found. "These bogus voters affect the entire electoral process."
BJP leader and union minister J.P. Nadda said the Election Commission's efforts to match EVM results with VVPAT was a good move.
"We should think ahead. The Election Commission has properly replied to all questions raised about the EVMs and we should look forward. (Using) VVPAT is a good move and it should be taken forward," he said.
Asked about the Congress demand for a return to ballot paper, he said that party's "habit of looking forward has ended."
Nadda said the BJP laid emphasis on correct identification of voters and proper training of people involved in the process. "(For) accurate voting there should be accurate identification. There should not be proxy identification."
Nadda said voter slip should not be the only way for identification as it can be purchased by an influential candidate and it should also be on the basis of six other identified documents.
"The other thing we said was that deletion of a voter from electoral rolls should be with a reason and should not take place below the level of district magistrate," he said.
Bahujan Samaj Party's Satish Misra said EVMs can be hacked. He said almost every party, except one, had made the demand and the world had gone back to the ballot paper.
Kalyan Banerjee of Trinamool Congress said they were demanding state funding of elections to check corruption and a ceiling limit on expenditure by a candidate.
He said there was time to implement voting through ballot paper before the Lok Sabha elections.
CPI-M's Nilotpal Basu said they mainly raised the question of funding of elections because this was the issue agitating the minds of electorate.
"Corporate funding has been promoted in such a big way." He said some parties want to go back to the ballot box but the CPI-M wanted much more thorough-going reforms.
He said simultaneous polls were not discussed but in the written submission the party had said that the suggestion was "totally anti-Constitutional."
AIADMK leader M. Thambidurai said the party was not against the ballot paper or EVMs.
"We are ready to face anything. At the same time, we suggested there should not be any malpractice, any doubt regarding EVM machines during the elections." He said state funding was the only answer to stop election malpractices.
CPI's Atul Kumar Anjan said there was a need to put an end to electronic voting system as many people in this country have sugar and eyesight related problems.
"Within eight seconds they cannot see to whom they have voted. There are lots of troubles with these electronic machines. Few people run the elections with money that is not politics."
BJD's Pinaki Mishra said: "We would ideally like the EC to lay down as to what percentage of the VVPAT paper trail they are going to count. Once that is done, I believe everyone should be reasonably satisfied."
He said his party supports the idea of simultaneous elections.
AAP's Raghav Chadha said EVMs can be easily hacked and there were incidents where these machines have created trouble during elections.
"At least 20 per cent voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines and electronic voting machines (EVMs) should be verified or paper ballot system should be implemented," he said.
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Agra: Karni Sena holds armed rally against Samajwadi Party’s MP, police stand down
Agra: An armed rally by Karni Sena has sparked serious concerns over law enforcement and public safety, in Agra on Friday, openly brandishing swords and sticks while raising provocative slogans against Samajwadi Party MP Dr. Ramji Lal Suman. The rally, held to mark the birth anniversary of Rajput icon Rana Sanga, witnessed the participation of thousands of Karni Sena members, many of whom were seen carrying weapons in the presence of the police.
Despite the large police deployment, including PAC personnel and senior officers such as the Additional Commissioner, no preventive or punitive action was taken by law enforcement authorities as the rally progressed. Visuals that have now gone viral on social media show rally participants waving swords, raising slogans, and even threatening prominent political figures, including former Chief Minister and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav.
The rally was reportedly organized to press for action against Dr. Ramji Lal Suman, the SP MP from Agra, who had earlier made a remark citing historical sources that Rana Sanga had invited Mughal ruler Babar to India. Although Suman had publicly apologized for the remark and clarified that it was not intended to hurt anyone’s sentiments, the Karni Sena had reacted sharply, terming it an insult to Rajput pride.
On March 26, 2025, soon after Suman's statement, Karni Sena members had reportedly attacked the MP's residence in Agra. Stones were pelted, vehicles were vandalized, windows smashed, and even police personnel were injured during the violence. Despite the severity of the incident, no major crackdown followed. The April 12 rally has now reignited concerns about the administration's handling of the group.
The Karni Sena had publicly declared their intent to organize the rally irrespective of police permission. Their national president, Raj Shekhawat, had even stated that they would march toward Suman’s house if their demands were not met. In anticipation, Agra Police had increased security outside the MP’s residence, ordered an additional 1,200 helmets and 1,000 batons, deployed drones, and set up barricades in sensitive zones.
However, when the rally took place, the arrangements appeared insufficient and ineffective. Crowd control measures were not enforced, and police presence appeared symbolic rather than deterrent. According to reports, the participants ignored police warnings, waving weapons and sticks in full view of law enforcement, and shouting slogans against SP leaders.
In a particularly alarming development, a Karni Sena leader can be seen in a viral video threatening to kill SP chief Akhilesh Yadav. Despite this direct threat, there has been no confirmation from the police on any action taken against the speaker.
The silence of the administration during the rally, as well as in response to the earlier March 26 attack on the MP's house, has raised sharp criticism. Many political observers and citizens have questioned why such actions were tolerated and why the law was not enforced when the potential for violence was already known.
The Samajwadi Party has described these incidents as targeted attacks against the Dalit community and political intimidation. Akhilesh Yadav has alleged that Karni Sena operates with tacit support from the BJP, and that the threats and violence are being allowed under the current regime.
Social media users have also reacted strongly to the visuals of the rally. Several users questioned whether other groups—such as protesting farmers or students—would have been allowed to behave similarly without police action. Some commentators have called the event an open challenge to law and order in Uttar Pradesh, especially in light of the Supreme Court’s recent critical remarks on the deteriorating situation in the state.
