Opposition goes to EC for 50% VVPAT check

NEW DELHI: A joint opposition on Tuesday petitioned the Election Commission that 50% auto check of VVPAT should be implemented.
The delegation included Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi, Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, CPI leader D Raja and Majeed Memon of NCP.
Speaking about the Supreme Court order rejecting the opposition plea in the morning, Singhvi said the apex court has not said that the EC cannot increase the auto check of VVPAT from the present 5%.
"Only our review plea for extending the auto check of VVPAT was rejected by the apex court," Singhvi said. He added the EC assured the delegation that they would look into how VVPAT can be made a bigger confidence building measure.
The opposition parties dismissed the BJP's remark that they have accepted defeat before the results. Addressing a press conference, CPI national secretary D Raja said, "The Supreme Court may have struck down our demand but there is no disagreement on the fundamental issue that VVPAT slips need to be counted. Both the SC and ECI agree on that. The issue is only about the quantum of slips to be counted."
A petition that calls for "fullest transparency" has been signed by 45 civic society members which include historian Ramchandra Guha, journalist P Sainath, former Delhi HC chief justice AP Shah,among others.