Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) president H.D. Deve Gowda on Monday welcomed the Supreme Court directive to increase the number of EVMs with VVPATs from one to five for each Assembly constituency for cross-checking the results.
Mr. Gowda, who arrived in the city to campaign for the TDP, told the media that the fight for the VVPAT EVMs and ultimately paper ballots would continue.
A good opportunity was given to the BJP in the last elections but it abused the chance, Mr. Gowda said.
He said the political opponents of the Central government had been identified and attempts were being made to demolish their image by selectively organising Income Tax and Enforcement Directorate raids. They were conducted on the houses of the close aides of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath. In Karnataka, Income Tax officials conducted searches at 24 places. All this was being done to send a wrong message to the people. Over 300 I-T officals were camping in Karnataka, AP, MP and Tamil Nadu. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was taking on the Central government, he said. On elections in AP, Mr. Gowda appealed to the people to stand with Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu who was working relentlessly for the development of the State.