TRS, TD join Opposition for return to paper ballots

New Delhi: Opposition parties, including TRS and the Telugu Desam, have given a notice in the Rajya Sabha for a discussion on electoral reforms with a focus on returning to ballot papers.

The notice submitted to Rajya Sabha Chairperson M. Venkaiah Naidu has been signed by 16 parties and demands a short-duration discussion under Rule 176 of Parliamentary Procedures.

The parties which have signed the notice include Congress, Trinamul Congress, DMK, MDMK, RJD, Nationalist Congress Party, Shiv Sena, BSP, Samajwadi Party, RJD, AAP, PDP, CPI, CPM, Telugu Desam and the TRS.

Though the notice is given under the broad heading of “Electoral Reforms for Free and Fair Elections”, the parties have agreed amongst themselves that the focus needs to be on return to paper ballot.

Electoral bonds is another issue which the parties want to raise, sources told this newspaper.

“We do not expect the matter to come up this week, but would certainly expect that it is taken up next week,” a senior Opposition leader said adding that the parties are likely to meet Mr Naidu and urge him to list the matter urgently.

The issue of return to ballot papers has been raised time and again by Opposition parties, but any question of fault in EVMs has been dismissed by the government.

Several parties have demanded a return to paper ballot for the Lok Sabha elections. The ruling party has, however opposed it.