Trinamool
The article discusses the recent developments regarding the opposition’s criticism of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in India. Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee has dismissed the opposition’s claims of EVM tampering, urging critics to demonstrate how the machines could be hacked. He emphasized the importance of proper procedures during EVM randomization, mock polls, and counting, suggesting that those raising doubts should show their evidence to the Election Commission.
Union Minister Satish Chandra Dubey echoed this sentiment, pointing out that recent elections in Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand saw no complaints about EVMs, even though the INDIA alliance, which includes the Congress, won. He claimed that an alliance built on falsehoods can’t endure, and praised Banerjee for seemingly understanding the truth late.
On the other hand, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah criticized the inconsistency in questioning the legitimacy of EVMs, pointing out that when elections are won, the same machines are celebrated, but when the results go against a party, doubts are raised. He stressed the importance of being consistent when questioning the method, arguing that parties should not contest elections if they do not trust EVMs.
The Congress has been vocal in its criticism of EVMs, especially after recent results in Haryana and Maharashtra. However, some of Congress’s allies, such as the Samajwadi Party, NCP, and Shiv Sena, have also raised concerns about the machines. Congress MP B Manickam Tagore criticized Omar Abdullah for seemingly distancing himself from the alliance’s stance on EVMs after becoming the Chief Minister.
In summary, there is a significant debate within the opposition about EVM reliability, with some leaders calling for consistent criticism and others, like Banerjee, urging a more evidence-based approach.
