Those who question EVMs should prove their claim: Trinamool MP

Trinamool Congress MP dismisses EVM tampering concerns, increasing Congress's isolation within INDIA bloc, urging evidence-based claims.

Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee on Monday (December 16, 2024) dismissed concerns about the tampering of electronic voting machines (EVMs), on the heels of similar remarks by National Conference leader and J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, increasing the Congress’s isolation within the INDIA bloc. 

After the recent Assembly elections in Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Haryana, the Congress had raised questions about the working of the EVMs. The Congress Working Committee, on November 29, passed a resolution saying that the integrity of the entire electoral process was “being severely compromised”, and announced a “national’’ movement to raise public concerns on the issue.

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Without naming the Congress, Mr. Banerjee, while speaking to the reporters outside Parliament, said, “This is my personal opinion that those who are raising questions about the EVMs, should hold a demonstration on its discrepancies to the Election Commission…. I don’t think there is anything substantial in these allegations.” At the same time, he added that if “someone” felt that EVMs could be manipulated, then they should present evidence to back such a claim. He also said that if they [Congress] felt so strongly about the issue, then they should go beyond just making a statement or two. “They [Congress] should launch a movement,” Mr. Banerjee said. 

On Sunday, Mr. Abdullah urged the Congress to be more consistent with their claims on EVMs. “EVMs can’t be a problem only when you lose elections,” he said. “They are the same EVMs when you get 100-plus members of Parliament, and celebrate it as a victory for your party. You can’t, a few months later, turn around and say ‘I don’t like them now’ because election results were different.” 

Mr. Banerjee’s remarks also have to be seen in the context of growing chorus in favour of Trinamool president Mamata Banerjee leading the INDIA bloc, accusing the Congress of falling short. “No party should be treated small. Trinamool is the only party in the INDIA alliance that has defeated the BJP as well as the Congress. This shows its strength. Undermining regional parties is incorrect. This is the mistake that both the Congress and the BJP do,” Mr. Banerjee said.