Opposition to approach EC demanding 2019 polls be held using ballot papers

Congress President Rahul Gandhi, BSP leader Mayawati, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, SP leader Akhilesh Yadav, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, CPIM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and others during the swearing-in ceremony of HD Kumaraswamy in Bengaluru,. (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: In an attempt to strengthen the Opposition unity against the ruling BJP, 17 political parties, including Trinamool Congress, are planning to approach the Election Commission, demanding that 2019 Lok Sabha polls be conducted on ballot papers, PTI reported on Thursday. The 17 opposition parties would meet next week to discuss the plan. "This is a matter on which all opposition parties agreed. We are planning to meet next week. We plan to go to Election Commission and demand that the EC conduct the coming Lok Sabha election on ballot papers," TMC leader Derek O'Brien told reporters. Sources said the opposition parties will raise the issue of EVMs in the Parliament to corner the Central government next week and are likely to hold a meeting soon in this regard. TMC had staged protests outside Parliament, questioning the neutrality of electronic voting machines (EVMs), and demanded that ballot papers be brought back for the 2019 Lok Sabha election. The ruling party in West Bengal said it is a "common programme" that will unite all opposition parties. Interestingly, Banerjee had also urged Shiv Sena, a BJP ally, to be a part of the delegation. Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray previously demanded that the 2019 Lok Sabha election be conducted on ballot papers instead of EVMs. (With PTI inputs)