Blaming EVMs has become a habit among opposition parties in India. When the UP assembly elections results came out in 2017 both Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati had blamed misuse of EVMs. Akhilesh blamed the EVMs for his party’s loss in civic polls as well in December 2017. But another disturbing trend has started with Akhilesh Yadav’s commentary on the result of UP by-elections. He has claimed that the anger of people has not been demonstrated adequately because of EVM tampering.
EVM sahi hota aur EVM ne samay kharaab nahi kiya hota toh SP ki jeet aur bhi zyada badi hoti. Kayi EVM jab check karayi gayi toh usme vote pehle se pade the. EVM se poora gussa nahi nikla, agar ballot hota toh aawaaz sunne ko milti aur gussa poora nikalta: Akhilesh Yadav, SP
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 15, 2018
Even as votes were being counted, the SP candidate had raised doubts on the EVMs before final the election results were declared. He had claimed that the government could do anything to win the elections.
I am confident of my victory & that is what people are saying that SP’s grand alliance will win this seat but there is a doubt in everyone’s mind regarding EVM machines. Govt can do anything using state administration: Praveen Kumar Nishad, SP candidate from Gorakhpur. pic.twitter.com/zsXatGusH9
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 14, 2018
This trend has made it very convenient for the opposition to claim that the government is always involved in foul play. If the opposition parties lose an election they claim EVMs were faulty. If the opposition parties win they say that the margin of victory could have been better if the EVMs had worked properly. This is ridiculous and dangerous for democracy in India.
