Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, May 25: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president and deputy chief minister, Dr G Parameshwar, said that even before the election was held, a letter had been written to the election commission on behalf of his party, expressing doubts about the functioning of electronic voting machines (EVM).
"Our strong demand is that ballot papers should be used for Lok Sabha election instead of EVMs. We have noticed that in several constituencies where Congress candidates were expected to get 80 percent of votes polled, BJP candidates have come out victorious. Therefore, our needle of suspicion is on EVMs," he explained.
He was addressing a press conference at the KPCC office on Queens Road here on Thursday May 24. "We keep hearing the comments that the alliance between Congress and JD(S) will not last long. But I can assure you that our government will complete full term of five years. No one needs to have any doubt on this issue," he asserted. Parameshwar said that his government has been able to reign in the autocratic functioning style of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. "Our main aim is to implement programmes which will benefit all classes of people including poor people, middle class, farmers, workers class etc.
Parameshwar said that common minimum programme would be drafted by keeping together the election manifestos of both the parties and then drawing up programmes on priority basis for fulfilling the aspirations of the people. He said that a coordination committee would be formed by bringing together leaders of both the parties after winning the trust vote. The committee will discuss on the policies and programmes and come to a decision. Thereafter, the government will work as per the common minimum programme, he stated.
Parameshwar clarified that the party leaders have not asked him to step down from the post of KPCC president. He stated that a special committee would be formed to find out and address issues which caused Congress candidates to taste defeat in so many constituencies, so that necessary steps could be taken to address these issues.