Churchill Alemao demands counting of VVPAT slips

Trinamool Congress (TMC) Benaulim candidate Churchill Alemao on Wednesday demanded that VVPAT (voter verified paper audit trail) slips should be counted instead of only considering votes recorded on EVM machines.

Speaking to media person at his office in Varca, Churchill said some forces are trying to manipulate the EVM machines in order to benefit certain candidates in the Goa Assembly election.

"In 2012 election, my family lost elections because of the EVMs. Since then the issue was even taken to court and the Lok Sabha took decision to introduce VVPAT as a way to have a paper audit. I am now asking every party or candidate to write to the election commission and ask it to do the counting based on the VVPAT slips," Churchill said.

Almeao said that he will be writing a letter to Election Commission in this regard and urged other candidates and leaders to do the same.

He further stated that this conspiracy is being hatched to prevent a secular government from coming to power in Goa.

The five-time MLA has contested from Benaulim while his daughter Valanka Alemao is fighting from Navelim constituency in the Goa Assembly elections 2022.

The count of ballot will be held on March 10.