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No Relief For Congress Seeking Verification Of 25% Votes In Gujarat

Congress has sought that votes polled should be matched with the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail.

Polling officials checking the electronic voting machines (EVMs) in Ahmedabad. (Image: PTI)
Polling officials checking the electronic voting machines (EVMs) in Ahmedabad. (Image: PTI)

The Supreme Court of India today declined the Gujarat Congress’ request seeking directions to the Election Commission to verify 25 percent of votes cast in Gujarat by matching them with the paper trail.

The Congress party had moved the Supreme Court after the exit polls projected that the Bharatiya Janata Party will retain power in the state. The party sought that votes polled should be matched with the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail.

While refusing to grant immediate relief, the apex court allowed the Gujarat Congress to file a petition on election reforms on VVPAT.

Congress leaders and lawyers Abhishek Singhvi and Kapil Sibal appeared in the plea filed by the Gujarat secretary of the party. During the hearing, Singhvi said the Congress would agree to the cross-verification of even 10 percent of the votes cast in the state assembly election with the paper trail.

Currently, Election Commission rules allow for the cross verification of votes cast in one booth per constituency.

The BJP is projected to capture 115 seats in the 182-seat Gujarat assembly, according to the mean tally of exit polls conducted by Today’s Chanakya, Times Now - VMR, C-Voter, and India Today-Axis My India exit poll. The Congress is likely to win 65 seats.