On National Voters’ Day, the Congress party criticized the Election Commission of India (ECI) for refusing to meet leaders of the INDIA bloc to discuss their demand for increased use of Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) in elections. AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh expressed disappointment, stating that the persistent refusal to meet the delegation is an injustice that undermines the very foundations of democracy.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge emphasized the significance of National Voters’ Day, highlighting the power of the people to shape their destiny through the freedom to elect representatives. Kharge underscored the importance of safeguarding the independence of institutions to protect democracy and uphold the constitution. The ongoing demand for greater transparency in the electoral process through increased VVPAT usage remains a point of contention between the opposition INDIA bloc and the Election Commission.