Omkar Dattatray
No, not at all. For petty politicking an unnecessary hue and cry is created by the opposition parties to deflect the attention of the gullible masses and to raise false narrative regarding EVMs. Unfortunately a false notion is being created by the opposition parties to project the tampering of people's verdict while the fact is that EVMs are scientific and technological machines where scope of tampering, malfunctioning and other dishonest practices are minimum.
Now that the elections results are out and the exit poll outcomes and predictions came true with more than absolute majority for NDA and over 300 seats for BJP alone, it becomes necessary to deliberate on the EVM controversy and to see if the oppositions baseless accusations do hold any water. With the election results favoring NDA government once again, it is in the fitness of things to see if the EVM's could be called chor meaning thereby that where the EVMs malfunctioning or not. The beauty of Indian democracy is the people's verdict through adult franchise and the election results are sacrosanct and they should not be and cannot be tampered with. The fact is that opposition parties sensing defeat in the elections as per the exit poll outcomes by various agencies are frustrated and grieved and thus are raising the false bogey of tampering of election results.
The people's verdict in a democracy should be pure, undiluted and un-adultered and it should not be tinkered with for the good of democracy. For healthy democracy, quality of elections is paramount and indispensable and the quality of adult suffrage should be maintained at all costs for the strength of democracy. Therefore sound democracy depends upon sound and free and fair elections for which ECI of India makes all provisions and this constitutional body which is autonomous maintains sanctity of the elections and there are very few chances of manipulation of results which opposition parties project as they sense poll debacle and thus are finding faults with EVMs.
The 22 opposition parties under the leadership of Andhra Pradesh CM Chandra Babu Naidu convened a meeting of almost all opposition parties in Delhi and also met Election Commission of India on 21st of May and projected their apprehension that the EVMs are tinkered with and that all VVPAT slips should be matched with EVMs, if some discrepancy is found in anyone of polling booths. But the ECI has rejected the claims of opposition parties and said everything is good and in order so far as EVMs are concerned. Earlier 22 opposition parties had a drubbing at the hands of top court when it did not accept the plea of 100 percent matching of VVPAT slips with the EVMs. Supreme Court denied permission to hear the opposition plea and this is a great set back to the opposition stand. The double speak of the opposition parties is obvious and these parties welcomed the results of polling through EVMs when it won three Hindi heartland assembly elections six months ago and then it did not talk of malfunctioning and manipulations of EVMs and then everything was right but now sensing debacle is staring them in face, these very parties of mahagathbandhan and Congress are up in arms against the ECI and the so called malfunctioning and manipulation of EVMs and this is the tragedy. But the fact of the matter is that there is somewhat 100 percent security so far as EVMs are concerned and there are no or very little chances of the tampering of the people's verdict.
However, in spite of these facts the opposition is hell bent to attack ECI and government of India over EVMs manipulation and so called tampering of the verdict and this is very unfortunate. PM Narendra Modi has rightly said that opposition parties after the exit polls predicted their doom are leveling false and baseless charges upon ECI and are raising the unnecessary bogey of EVM malfunctioning. It is very sad that this time as well opposition parties are leveling false charges on ECI and say that EVMs are manipulated which is far from reality. The election commission is an independent agency should clear the mist and make things clear so that people's faith in ECI is maintained.
The opposition parties led by Telugu Desham party and supported by AAP have held an important meeting over EVMs and their future strategy. The fact is that opposition parties have been complaining about EVM malfunctioning and are demanding ballot polls even before the 2019 general elections. It was ahead of poll results that opposition parties up the ante on EVMs. The opposition parties demanded the VVPAT slips be counted along with EVM figures which is not possible as this will delay election results. Opposition parties are desperately seeking an excuse for their impending defeat according to BJP.
The controversy over the inviolability of EVMs peaked as counting day loomed with 22 opposition parties taking their complaint to the ECI and former president Pranab Mukherjee making a surprise intervention to wade into political waters. Just two days before the counting of votes takes place for 2019 general elections, opposition parties on Tuesday demanded that Voter verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips be counted along with EVMs in the entire assembly constituency in case a discrepancy is found in any polling booth. The opposition complaint seemed to have found a powerful backer in Mukherjee who issued a four paragraph statement expressing his concern at reports EVM tampering and placing the responsibility of clearing doubts with the “workmen” of EC. The paragraph mentions that “the onus of ensuring institutional integrity in this case lies with ECT.
They must do so and put all speculations at rest”. There are reports that EVMs are being moved and many EVMs were not working on the day of polling. EC has said they will meet to discuss our concerns on Wednesday and take a decision said Gulam Nabi Azad of Congress, leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha. On its part EC reiterated that EVMs were fool proof and were kept in strong rooms before counting. EC said that after close of polls on Sunday that all poll EVMs and VVPATs were brought under security cover to the strong rooms which were sealed with double locks in the presence of candidates and EC observers. The aspersions in clips being used in media pertain to the storage or movement of reserve unused EVMs.
BJP has said and said it rightly, “when they win as they in state polls recently, EVMs are trust worthy. But when they lose they become questionable. Ahead of counting of votes on May, 23 the BJP and the opposition are at loggerheads over alleged movement tampering of EVMs. As already said leaders of 22 opposition parties approached EC and presented video clipping allegedly showing the unauthorized movement of EVMs and also demanded verification of VVPAT slips before counting of votes on the voting machines. The BJP said allegation was an albi in the face of eminent defeat.
The EC however dismissed the reports saying the charges were frivolous and unfounded. The EC has stated that everything is in order and EVMs were kept in strong rooms and there was no movement of EVMs and the allegations are false. And unfortunate narrative has been created about EVMs and VVPATs and even aspersions were cast on the impartial role of ECI and its unbiased image while the fact is that Indian EC is the role model for many foreign countries. It is unbiased and impartial. In brief there should be no politicking on EVMs anymore as EVMs are trustworthy.
(The writer is columnist and a social activist)
