MARGAO
Former two-time Member of Parliament Churchill Alemao has said that he would contest the ensuing Lok Sabha election if the polls are conducted with traditional ballots.
The MP demanded to know what has made certain personalities knock on the doors of the Supreme Court to challenge the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the coming Lok Sabha election.
“When I had raised doubts over the EVMs after the 2012 Assembly election, I was criticised in many quarters that I had raised the issue of EVM manipulations just because I have been defeated in the election," he said while speaking to the media on Monday.
Churchill sought to know why citizens were raising their voices against the use of EVMs in elections, even going to the extent of knocking the doors of the Supreme Court to demand the return of the ballot system.
He declined to comment on a query whether he suspects the role of the ruling BJP behind the manipulations in EVMs as claimed in certain quarters. “I am not saying anything. All I want to know is why citizens are now raising their voice against EVMs when many of them had mocked me when I had raised doubts about EVMs in 2012,” he asked.
He replied in the positive when asked whether he would contest the ensuing Lok Sabha polls in the event the Election Commission of India reverts to the ballot system.
Asked whether he would contest the coming polls irrespective of whether the polls are conducted by EVMs or ballots system, Churchill said he would make his stand clear only after the Election Commission announces the election date.
