The contentious issue of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) resonated in Nagpur on the opening day of the winter session of the state legislature on Monday. Legislators from the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) staged a protest on the steps of the Vidhan Bhawan, opposing the use of EVMs in elections.
The Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) MLAs and MLCs participated in the demonstrations, raising slogans such as “EVM hatao, desh bachao” and “EVM hatao constitution bachao.” Leader of the opposition in the state council Ambadas Danve led the protests along with Congress leaders Vijay Wadettiwar, Nitin Raut, Bhai Jagtap, Shiv Sena UBT leaders Bhaskar Jadhav, Varun Sardesai, Sachin, and NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad.
Terming the EVMs as dangerous for democracy, Danve said people are against its usage.
Replying to a jibe by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who had said “Every vote has gone for Maharashtra”, the MVA leaders said, “Every vote for Mahayuti”.
The opposition members alleged misuse of the EVMs by the Central government and the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, while reacting to the protests, advised the Congress to introspect and stop blaming others for their defeat in various elections. The government would answer all the points raised by the Opposition in the legislature, he said.
“Whenever Congress loses, it blames others rather than introspecting. Until they introspect, they will keep losing,” said Fadnavis.
“My government is ready to discuss whatever points the opposition wants on the EVM, he added.
