NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Rahul Kalate addresses the media, demanding ballot paper voting after the Maharashtra EC rules out VVPAT use in upcoming civic polls. [Image Source: Reuters]
The Maharashtra State Election Commission's decision to forbid Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) technology in the upcoming civic body elections has generated a great deal of controversy. The Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar faction) has strongly criticized the ruling, calling it a blow to election transparency.
The party has demanded that if VVPATs are unavailable, the polls must be conducted using traditional ballot papers. This sharp reaction comes just as the election process for 29 municipal corporations and other local bodies is set to begin after Diwali, by the end of October 2025.
Senior NCP (SP) leader Rahul Kalate voiced deep concern, calling the EC’s decision “shocking” and “concerning.” He warned that it could erode public trust and open the door to electoral malpractice.
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Rahul Kalate, who lost the 2024 assembly election from Chinchwad to the BJP’s Shankar Jagtap, led the charge against the EC. Speaking with ANI, he said, “The State Election Commission has decided not to use VVPATs due to unavailability. This only creates a favourable environment for electoral malpractice.”
Kalate added that the EC’s credibility had already been questioned during the previous state elections. The current decision, he said, would only worsen public distrust. “If the Commission cannot ensure VVPAT-backed voting, then they must revert to traditional ballot paper elections. VVPAT is crucial for verifying the integrity of votes cast through EVMs,” he said.
After his electoral loss in 2024, Kalate filed a petition demanding a vote recount in Chinchwad. He submitted Form 17 and alleged discrepancies in the counting process. His ongoing battle with the EC further fuels the current confrontation over electoral transparency.
The NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) has now made it clear: it will not accept an election process that lacks transparency. The party is expected to launch a strong campaign demanding ballot paper voting if VVPATs are not reinstated.
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Maharashtra’s State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare announced during a recent press conference and review meeting in Nashik. He clarified that VVPATs will not be used in elections to Municipal Corporations, Zilla Parishads, and Municipal Councils.
Waghmare defended the decision by citing the unavailability of VVPAT machines. He also noted that no other State Election Commission in India uses VVPATs for local body polls. “In the past, VVPAT machines were not used. This time too, they will not be used,” he said.
A deeper concern now looms. For the last three years, administrators—not elected representatives—have been running 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra. This extended delay in conducting elections has already drawn criticism. Now, with no VVPATs and uncertainty over voting methods, faith in the entire local governance process is under threat.
This prolonged suspension of elected bodies, combined with reduced transparency in upcoming polls, may weaken democratic accountability at the grassroots level. The absence of VVPATs only worsens the situation, raising the risk of public disengagement and political mistrust.
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As the civic election season approaches, the Maharashtra EC is facing mounting pressure. The NCP's demand for either ballot papers or VVPATs reflects broader concerns about voting integrity. The Commission must act swiftly to restore trust before it threatens democracy.
The state's civic polls may encounter additional legal and political obstacles if the EC declines to reexamine its ruling. For now, the ball is in the Commission’s court.
