Opposition parties to approach EC on Monday over EVM issue

Press Trust of India  |  New Delhi 

Opposition parties met here and decided to approach the on Monday for redressal of their concerns over the use of EVMs in the upcoming polls.

"We have had a good meeting. All parties have agreed to discuss in detail three issues -- two central and one structural -- jobs, agriculture and attack on institutions. We are going to meet and find solutions to these problems," he said.

"The election will be about jobs, agriculture, attack on institutions, and corruption by the in the Rafale deal," the said.

Asked about the budget being hailed as a "surgical strike", Gandhi said "surgical strike" will happen on the and his on issues such as Rafale, jobs and demonetisation.

He said opposition parties will meet officials on Monday over concerns about EVM tampering.

Apart from Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, Omar Abdullah, Samajwadi Party's Ram Gopal Yadav, Bahujan Samaj Party's Satish Chandra Mishra, DMK's Kanimozhi, of Trinamool Congress, CPI's D Raja, CPI-M's T K Rangarajan, of Rashtriya Janata Dal, Aam Aadmi Party's and among others, attended the meeting.

Senior leaders Ahmed Patel, Ghulam Nabi Azad, and A K Antony, Danish Ali of JDS and were also present in the meeting.

Several opposition parties have been claiming that only two-three countries are using EVMs and the rest have reverted to the ballot paper system following complaints of malfunctioning of these machines.

The Congress, while supporting the demand, has maintained that since the election is just around the corner, the EC should ensure counting of paper trail in 50 per cent booths across the country to ensure there is no doubt in the minds of the voters.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Fri, February 01 2019. 18:31 IST