EVM controversy

— The recent Lok Sabha election with more than 700 million voters, over one million polling booths spread over five phases lasting a month proved to the world the success of the Indian electoral machinery and triumph of democracy. The people have clearly given their mandate for secularism and development as against communalism and divisionism. The BJP with its Prime Ministerial aspirant Lal Krishna Advani had to bite the dust and could hardly recover from the unexpected rejection by the Indian electorate. It was expected that the party would humbly accept the verdict instead of finding faults with the electronic voting machines. LK Advani has expressed his opinion against the use of EVMs and recommended reversion to ballot papers starting with Maharastra Assembly elections in October next. The BJP spokesperson, Ravi Shanker Prasad supported the plea citing the examples of foreign countries where ballot papers had been reintroduced. He also recommended that elections in Maharastra, Haryana should be done through ballot papers. The CPI (M), JD(S), LJP have supported the move of the BJP starting a needless controversy on a non issue.

The Election Commission has rejected the allegation that the EVMs could be manipulated and its tamper proof and technological soundness had been endorsed by the technical experts. No party or individual had so far been able to demonstrate that the EVM could be manipulated. Earlier, with ballot papers, rigging and snatching of ballot boxes were rampant in UP and Bihar where musclemen were engaged by political parties or candidates to rig the poll. With the introduction of EVMs, the Election Commission could eliminate such malpractices. Further, the results could be announced all over the country in two to three hours instead of days as was happening earlier when ballot papers were used. Therefore, reverting back to ballot papers would tantamount to encouraging rigging and making the election process a sham. However, the Election Commission should ask these parties demanding replacement of EVMs to prove that the EVMs could be manipulated or else withdraw their demand. An all party meeting should be convened and any allegation against the EVMs be dispelled by actual demonstration. SOURCE: ASSAM TRIBUNE