EVMs are perfectly fine, says Nitish

‘It strengthened people’s right to vote’

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday defended Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), saying it was “perfectly fine” and suggested that there will not be any problem if voter verifiable paper audit trails (VVPAT) are made available at every polling stations.

Amid raging debate over EVMs, which Opposition leaders have been critical of, Mr. Kumar said he was not in agreement with the things said.

Dig at Congress

In an apparent dig at the Congress, which is among opposition parties who are criticising EVMs, Mr. Kumar asked “during whose time the EVM system was introduced?”

“My stand on the use of EVM is very clear. EVMs are perfectly fine. There will not be any problem if VVPAT is made available at every polling stations. I do not agree with things which are being said about EVM. In my view, EVM has strengthened people’s right to vote,” Kumar told reporters.

Tributes to Netaji

He was talking to reporters here after paying tributes to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on his 122nd birth anniversary in the capital.

The incidents of bogus voting and booth capturing used to be witnessed during voting through ballot paper but things have improved with the introduction of EVMs, Mr. Kumar, who is also JD(U) national president, said.