Unable to digest the unexpected defeat in Punjab and Goa Assembly polls, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today alleged that the Electronic Voting Machines used during polls were tampered with to favour the Congress and other parties.
Addressing the media here, Kejriwal today said that there was a wave of AAP in Punjab and no one had predicted its loss in the state.
“Many said that there is anger against Akalis and AAP is sweeping polls, still AAP got 25 per cent votes and SAD got 31 per cent, how is it possible?” Kejriwal questioned.
Holding the Election Commission of India responsible for his party’s poor show, Kejriwal said, “Election Commission's responsibility to keep people's faith in EVM. They cannot shirk responsibility.”
He even suggested the poll body to count the slips of Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) and match it with figures of EVM results. “If it matches people's trust will increase,” the CM said.
“Through the EVM is it possible that 20-25 per cent vote share meant for AAP was transferred to SAD-BJP alliance. They wanted AAP to lose,” he added.
“Our vote share went to Akalis and Congress won in Punjab. Akali's victory would've made it too obvious. They only wanted to keep AAP out,” Kejriwal said.
“We know it is too late to declare Punjab and Goa elections void but this is for future, faith has to be restored in electoral process,” he opined.
Citing an observation made by the Supreme Court, he said, “Supreme Court has said that EVM is vulnerable to tampering, we aren't saying it. I know you will all make fun of me, hash tag me.”
“Developed countries have given up EVMs should we not rethink. Even the BJP including Advaniji had said EVMs can be tampered,” he added.
When asked why he didn’t raise the matter in 2015 when the AAP emerged victorious in Delhi and ‘Mahagathbandhan’ won in Bihar, the AAP leader said, “People who tamper EVMs, they should answer why they didn't do so in Delhi and Bihar.”
Kejriwal’s latest outburst comes a day after he demanded EVMs be replaced by ballot papers in the upcoming civic bodies elections in Delhi.
In the recently concluded Punjab Assembly polls, which witnessed a triangular fight for the first time, gave a lead to Congress party that won 77 seats. The AAP managed to bag only 20 chairs in 117-member House. The SAD along with its alliance partners won just 18 seats.
The AAP’s allegation comes even it had stationed its observers outside each polling centre where EVMs were sealed after the polling.
Kejriwal and all opposition leaders including BSP supremo Mayawati, outgoing Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav have alleged that the EVM machines were tampered to favour the BJP in the Assembly polls.
