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The recent electoral setbacks suffered by the Indian National Congress (INC), notably the significant losses in the Maharashtra Assembly elections and the prior Haryana state polls, have prompted a strong reaction from party leadership. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge has openly voiced concerns about the integrity of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), advocating for a return to the traditional ballot paper system. This demand, expressed at the 'Samvidhan Rakshak Abhiyaan' function in Delhi, highlights a growing unease within the party regarding the fairness of recent elections. Kharge's statement, calling for a mass movement akin to Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra, signifies the seriousness with which the Congress is taking this issue. The party believes that a shift back to ballot papers is crucial to ensure transparency and restore public faith in the electoral process.
Kharge's assertion that votes of marginalized communities are being wasted due to alleged EVM manipulation is a significant accusation. He directly challenges the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), implicitly suggesting that the EVMs are being used to skew election outcomes in the BJP's favor. This claim, while not offering direct evidence, taps into a long-standing narrative among opposition parties that EVMs are susceptible to manipulation. The timing of Kharge's statement is particularly noteworthy, coinciding with the Supreme Court's dismissal of a petition calling for a return to ballot paper voting. The court's decision, citing the raising of EVM tampering allegations only after electoral losses, adds another layer of complexity to the debate. The Supreme Court's position, however, does not invalidate the underlying concerns raised by the Congress and other opposition parties.
The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress chief, Nana Patole, echoed Kharge's concerns, refusing to accept the election results and explicitly citing the 'EVM issue' as a reason. Patole's comments underscore the widespread dissatisfaction within the Congress party regarding the electoral outcome. The significant disparity between the BJP's victory (132 seats) and the Congress's meager 16 seats further fuels these suspicions. The performance of other parties, such as the Shiv Sena factions and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), also contributed to the overall picture of a significant shift in Maharashtra's political landscape. Patole's assertion that the public sentiment reflects a distrust in the election results further emphasizes the growing grassroots concern about the use of EVMs. His call for a mass movement suggests that the Congress intends to capitalize on these concerns to build momentum and potentially influence future electoral processes.
The Congress's claims of EVM manipulation are not entirely novel. Similar allegations were made after the Haryana state polls, where the party blamed discrepancies in EVM battery strength for unexpected results. These accusations raise critical questions about the reliability and security of EVMs. While Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has defended the EVMs' security and robustness, emphasizing their disconnected nature to prevent hacking, the persistence of such allegations from a major opposition party demands careful consideration. The debate necessitates a thorough examination of existing electoral mechanisms and a transparent investigation into any claims of irregularities. The continued use of EVMs, without addressing these concerns comprehensively, risks eroding public trust in the democratic process itself.
The demand for a return to ballot papers carries significant implications. A transition back to the older system would involve substantial logistical challenges, including the procurement and distribution of ballot papers, the organization of a more extensive counting process, and the potential for increased human error. However, weighing these logistical challenges against the need to ensure public trust and faith in the electoral system is a critical task for the Election Commission of India. The current situation highlights the urgent need for open discussion, independent audits, and possibly even pilot programs to explore alternative, more secure voting systems. The long-term consequences of ignoring these concerns could be detrimental to the health of Indian democracy.
Source: "Don't Want EVMs, We Want Ballot Paper": Mallikarjun Kharge Days After Maharashtra Loss