EC all-party meet on 2019 Lok Sabha Polls

TIL Desk/National/New Delhi/ The Election Commission has convened an all-party meeting in New Delhi to discuss preparations for the Lok Sabha polls due next year where the issue of vulnerability of EVMs is likely to remain in focus. Sources in the poll panel said the meeting is not restricted to the issue of electronic voting machines but is part of its annual calendar to meet stakeholders.

“Since elections to the Lok Sabha are due next year, it is pertinent that EC meets parties … the agenda includes paid news, model code violations, inflammatory speeches … the EC will also inform parties about the progress made in procuring latest EVMs and paper trail machines ahead of general elections,” said an EC functionary.

Some political parties are set to raise the issue of alleged vulnerability of EVMs to hacking and tampering. But EC is expected to remind them that none was able to tamper with the machines in last year’s EVM challenge.