MARGAO: Former Minister Churchill Alemao announced that he is ready to contest the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections only if the Election Commission of India (ECI) discontinues the use of EVM machines and re-introduces the ballot voting system.
Alemao was addressing media persons on Monday.
He added that people from talukas outside Salcete such as Sanguem, Canacona and Quepem also want him to contest and when the public wants him to contest, he will contest.
When asked on which political party he would contest from, he insisted that securing a nomination from any party does not matter to him as he has always been the ‘peoples candidate’.
Churchill emphasised that EVMs, invented by the Japanese, have faced bans in several countries, raising questions about their effectiveness and security. He pointed out that the issue of EVMs has even reached the Supreme Court, where some have sought a ban on their usage. Alemao questioned the motive
behind seeking such a ban and suggested that the debate over the use of EVMs versus traditional ballot voting would soon come to the forefront.
Expressing his faith in the ballot paper system, Alemao declared his conditional candidacy, affirming that he would be willing to contest Lok Sabha elections only if they are conducted through the traditional method of ballot voting.
He asserted that the people’s trust in the electoral process is crucial, and the choice of voting method plays a significant role in upholding the democratic values of transparency and fairness.
