Congress To Campaign Against Use Of EVMs; Kharge Calls For Ballot Paper Voting Return

After the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a decisive victory in the Maharashtra assembly elections, winning 230 out of 288 seats, Congress leaders raised concerns about the integrity of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). They alleged that these machines were manipulated, leading to their defeat. The Congress party has been vocal about their preference for a return to ballot papers.

During a Constitution Day event at Delhi's Talkatora Stadium, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge expressed his dissatisfaction with EVMs. "We don't want EVMs, we want ballot paper," he stated emphatically. This sentiment was echoed by other Congress members who believe that EVMs are susceptible to tampering.

Concerns Over EVM Manipulation

Karnataka's Home Minister and Congress' Maharashtra observer, G Parameshwara, claimed that there was "selective EVM" hacking in Maharashtra. He argued that such manipulations are done strategically to avoid detection. Parameshwara questioned why similar issues were not reported in states like Jharkhand, suggesting targeted interference.

Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole voiced frustration over the lack of action on these concerns. "No one is listening on this (EVM issue)," he told ANI. Patole mentioned that despite approaching the Supreme Court, they were asked to provide proof of tampering. He believes a mass movement might be necessary to address these grievances.

Supreme Court's Stance on Ballot Papers

The Supreme Court recently dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking the reintroduction of paper ballots in Indian elections. A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and PB Varale remarked on the inconsistency of claims regarding EVMs. "When you lose, EVMs are tampered with; when you win, EVMs are fine," they noted while rejecting the plea.

The bench highlighted instances where political figures like Chandrababu Naidu and Mr Reddy blamed EVMs for their losses but remained silent when victorious. The court emphasized that such arguments should not be presented before them without substantial evidence.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge proposed a campaign similar to 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' to advocate for the return of ballot papers in elections. This initiative aims to garner public support and pressure authorities into reconsidering the voting system used in India.

Despite these efforts, the Supreme Court's decision indicates a firm stance on maintaining the current electronic voting system unless concrete evidence of tampering is provided. The debate over EVM reliability continues to be a contentious issue among political parties in India.