BJP delegation meets Chief Election Commissioner ahead of Bihar polls

New Delhi, Sep 3 (ANI): A delegation of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders met the Chief Election Commissioner, S Y Quraishi, here on Friday ahead of the Bihar assembly elections.

"The objective of this meeting with Chief Election Commissioner was pertaining to the security and paper back up of electronic voting machines (EVMs). After a decade of using EVMS, its performance audit should be done and attempt should be made to enhance its foolproof security," BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters after the meeting.

Prasad further said all the political parties have some issues related to EVMs and for this the Election Commission should summon an all-party meeting to discuss the various issues related to EVMs.

Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, who was also part of the delegation, mentioned that for more precision in the EVM, there should be provision for paper backup of votes cast by the electorate.

"The Bharatiya Janata Party wants EVMs with paper backup. We have told the Election Commission that in India, the Bharat Electronics Limited and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited are such companies, which make EVM with paper backup. The EVMs with paper back up will give more transparency," said Somaiya.

"The Election Commission has said that they are thinking about doing internal experiment. Secondly, they will take additional security measures in the Bihar election," he added.

It has been reported that the Bihar administration-taking note of the upcoming assembly elections and with a directive issued by the Election Commission are operating several EVMs to test their accuracy.

In the November 2005 elections in Bihar, the Janata Dal-United (JD-U)-BJP combine, riding on a wave of popular anger against the Rabri Devi regime, was swept to power, bagging 143 of the 243 seats, and Nitish Kumar was sworn in as the Chief Minister. (ANI)