Maharashtra Assembly winter session: Opposition stages protest on Vidhan Bhawan steps against EVMs

Pic/X@VijayWadettiwar

Opposition members staged a demonstration on the steps of the Maharashtra Vidhan Bhawan in Nagpur on Monday and raised slogans against the use of EVMs in elections, reported news agency PTI.

The protest was held on the opening day of the Maharashtra Assembly winter session in Nagpur.

Leader of opposition in the state legislative council Ambadas Danve led the demonstration of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders, who called for "saving" the Constitution and democracy and opposed the use of EVMs, reported PTI.

They raised slogans like "EVM Hatao Desh Bachao", "EVM Hatao Constitution Bachao" and "EVM Hatao Democracy Bachao", reported PTI.

Danve was joined by Congress legislators Vijay Wadettiwar, Nitin Raut, Bhai Jagtap and Vikas Thakre, Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Bhaskar Jadhav, Varun Desai and Sachin Ahir, and NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad, reported PTI.

Talking to reporters, Danve claimed the Electronic Voting Machines were "dangerous" for democracy and that people were opposing the use of EVMs in elections.

"We think the EVMs should be removed and elections should be held on ballot papers," the Sena (UBT) leader said, reported PTI.

Notably, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday slammed the opposition MVA for terming the ruling Mahayuti as a "government of EVM", reported PTI.

"Our government came to power because every vote has gone for Maharashtra," Fadnavis said.

Reacting to it, Danve quipped, "Every vote for ballot paper," reported PTI.

Congress leader Bhai Jagtap said that EVM implied "Every vote for Mahayuti", reported PTI.

He alleged that the Centre and the BJP-led Maharashtra government misused EVMs.

The Congress and MVA will raise awareness about the use of ballot papers in elections, instead of the EVMs, he said.

NCP (SP) MLA from Beed, Sandeep Kshirsagar, alleged the involvement of local NCP functionary Valmik Karad in the last week's murder of Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of a village in the district.

Kshirsagar demanded justice for Deshmukh and said if the demand is not fulfilled, a huge morcha will be held in Beed after the Maharashtra Assembly winter session.

(With inputs from PTI)