15 october 2024 : As the announcement of dates for the Jharkhand and Maharashtra assembly elections approaches, Congress leader Rashid Alvi on Tuesday called for a return to ballot papers for voting. He expressed concerns that if electronic voting machines (EVMs) were used, the BJP government and the Election Commission (EC) could manipulate the results.
Alvi referenced Israel’s alleged manipulation of pagers, stating that if such tactics could lead to violence, EVMs could be equally compromised. He emphasized that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has strong ties with Israel and suggested that the opposition in Maharashtra should advocate for paper ballots to prevent potential EVM rigging.
“The EVM issue could arise anywhere. That’s why the BJP plays this card ahead of elections,” he claimed.
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) also criticized the EC, alleging that it is under the influence of the BJP. JMM leader Manoj Pandey raised concerns about BJP leaders receiving advance information about the election announcement, questioning the commission’s independence and suggesting it operates as a puppet for the BJP.
On social media, the JMM tweeted, “The boss has set everything up. What a scene! @ECISVEEP, will you respond?”
These remarks come as the Election Commission of India prepares to announce the election dates. Alvi cited past instances where Israel reportedly killed individuals in Lebanon by hacking into the pagers of Hezbollah operatives.
The opposition has long accused the BJP of colluding with the Election Commission to rig EVMs, a claim the poll panel has repeatedly denied. Earlier this month, Congress raised alarms over vote counting discrepancies after their unexpected defeat in the Haryana assembly elections, where the BJP secured 48 out of 90 seats compared to Congress’s 37.
