Raipur: In a political resolution passed at its 85th plenary Saturday, the Congress said that voters in the country have lost faith in the electoral process, especially the electronic voting machines (EVMs).
“The Congress will build the widest possible consensus with all like-minded parties to take up the issue with the Election Commission of India (ECI), and if they do not respond, then go to Court”, said the party’s political resolution, which is being seen as a roadmap to its policies leading up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
The resolution claimed that more than 14 recognised political parties, several eminent activists, and computer scientists have raised concerns on the efficacy of EVMs to the ECI, but have not received any response so far.
The statement on EVMs was a part of a larger proposal on electoral reforms, in which the party has also reinstated its stance on electoral bonds, calling them “fatally flawed and fully corrupt”. As an alternative, the party proposed setting up a “National Election Fund”.
“Congress will set up a National Election Fund to which all may contribute. During elections, funds will be allocated to political parties using a transparent and fair criteria laid down by law,” the resolution stated.
Introduced in 2018 by the Narendra Modi government, electoral bonds are like promissory notes which the public can buy from the State Bank of India and then donate to a political party or individual of their choice. The party or individual may then encash the amount through the party’s registered bank account.
The party in its resolution also made a bid for a more “robust” data protection law to “end government surveillance of citizens”.
(Edited by Poulomi Banerjee)
Also read: Congress passes resolution calling for restoration of J&K statehood, goes ‘silent’ on Article 370