AN OPEN LETTER TO LEADERS OF INDIA Alliance
Dear Leaders of the INDIA Alliance
Sub: IMPORTANT: Verification of 5% of Votes as per SC verdict
Firstly, congratulations for fighting the 2024 general elections with vigor, intensity and passion. But the fight is far from over. Everywhere I go , I hear the same concern from anxious citizens: Is this a fair and free election? The trust in the Election Commission is abysmally low for understandable reasons that do not merit repetition.
I agree that the SC verdict of April 26th 2024 on not allowing 100% verification of VVPAT’s (which would have delayed the election results by a few days at most but ensured 100% authenticity ) was disappointing. But this is not the time to crib and complain. The SC has permitted the following: A verification of 5% of VVPAT/EVM reconciliation per assembly per constituency. While technically it may appear to be a small sample size, in a parliamentary constituency of 20 lakh voters, that could be as high as 1 lakh votes, for instance. For a verification, the candidate who is a runner-up or even at number 3 has to submit a written request within 7 days of the declared result. The candidate/ party must bear the nominal expenses for the same.
Given the stakes ( the future of Indian democracy itself), the INDIA Alliance needs to do the following:
1) Demand a verification as per process in all constituencies where the margin of defeat is small.
2) Demand a verification in all constituencies where it is bullish on its victory but is getting a surprisingly different result.
If ANY discrepancy is observed, a repoll must be immediately sought for, given that even a small statistical variation in a 5% verification could be symptomatic of a larger malaise in the balance 95% of the overall count. The EC cannot object to the same as there will be tangible evidence of vote tampering, if that is indeed the case.
I am putting this note publicly because all citizens of India are its stakeholders, and their opinions matter. And they must be heard. Their votes are sacrosanct and must be respected, whichever way they have voted.
Wishing you the very best.
Warm Regards
Sanjay Jha
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