EVMs: Hero or villain?
When elections end, mostly all parties get into introspection mode to examine the reasons for their victory or loss. If the party has done badly, at least a few prominent leaders in vantage positions will be expected to resign. But today things have changed. The parties that have lost hardly introspect, and instead shift the entire blame on hacked EVMs and rest is easy.
BSP did this when Mayawati lost in UP assembly elections without engaging in debates with the infights and polarization of votes and other factors that had caused the loss. With the loss of face in Karnataka elections, the losing party is now blaming the EVMs for this. The confidence Congress exhibited of winning 120 seats, and arguments of ‘no anti-incumbency’ have fallen flat with massive loss of seats. Even while the discussions on what caused this are on, some Cong leaders have alleged that EVMs have been manipulated in 30-40 constituencies. While observing the results from some staunch supporting places, this allegation may even ring true! But the blame on EVM is restricted to the machine alone, and no one is going forward to lodge a complaint or do anything to rectify it. If these allegations that started after UP elections are indeed true, why was the case not followed to a complaint and then corrective actions? Why are politicians conveniently silent when results favour them and cry victim when they are not?
This is not a new complaint. Long ago, L K Advani of BJP had blamed EVMs when the UPA government came into power in the centre. Many have proven that the voting machines can be easily hacked. This time around, pressing any button would lead to BJP getting the votes by default. The allegations of Modi government getting the use of manipulated EVMs have not died down. Yet, the BJP is asking a crucial question of ‘why reject the technology?’
This question may not matter much. But the point that many developed nations have gone back to ballot papers having rejected EVMs after allegations of their misuse surfacing, is a point to be noted. That does not mean those countries are anti-technology. They simply dumped the EVMs and went back to their trusted method because they did not want to compromise on their country’s foundation of democracy.
But India shows undue interest in continuing with EVMs, no matter what. Using technology for the sake of it should not be a matter of pride. We need to know when to reject the technology as well, in order to protect our institutions. EVMs do un-complicate the process of voting and counting by being time efficient. But is that the only criterion we should be considering? If someone can hack into the system and get the desired results, how prudent it is to continue with the use of gadgets? Is this not a mockery of the system?
The Election Commission insists that the EVMs can never be hacked, and on the parallel, many hackers have shown how it can be done. Apart from BJP, all other parties have expressed doubts about EVMs including Shiv Sena. The Election Commission needs to consider all this, and take a decision before the next general elections. All parties need to come together on this as well, in order to ensure deeper participation in this process and reach an amicable solution.
While others are at this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi needs to answer why is he insisting on the use of EVMs when every party is raising doubts about the authenticity of this technology.
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UDF leaders see local body poll trends as pointer to 2026 Assembly elections in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Buoyed by the strong performance of the Congress-led UDF in the local body polls, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said on Saturday that the front's results indicated the people had rejected the LDF government.
According to early trends, the UDF was leading in more grama panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities and corporations than the LDF.
The local body polls were held in two phases in the state earlier this week.
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Speaking to reporters here, Joseph said the people of Kerala had extended their support to the UDF.
"We could expose the LDF government’s anti-people stance and the people understood it. The LDF’s fake propaganda was rejected by the people. The UDF is moving towards a historic victory," he said.
He said a united effort, proper preparations, good candidate selection and hard work had resulted in the Congress and the UDF’s victory in the elections.
Asked about the prospects in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Joseph said the party was studying the matter and would comment later.
LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the results would be closely examined.
According to him, the government had done everything possible for the people.
"Why such a verdict happened will be examined at the micro level. People’s opinion will be considered and further steps will be taken," he said.
He added that decisions would be taken after analysing the results. "If any corrective measures are required, we will initiate them and move forward," he said.
AICC leader K C Venugopal said the results showed that people had begun ousting those who, he alleged, were responsible for the loss of gold at Lord Ayyappa’s temple.
"This trend will continue in the Assembly elections as well. It is an indication that the people are ready to bring down the LDF government," he said.
Venugopal said the UDF had registered victories even in CPI(M) and LDF strongholds.
"I congratulate all UDF workers for their hard work. Congress workers and leaders worked unitedly," he said.
Referring to remarks made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the Congress on polling day, Venugopal said the voters had responded through the verdict.
"I do not know whether the chief minister understands that the people are against him. Otherwise, he does not know the sentiment of the people. The state government cannot move an inch further," he said.
He said the results indicated a strong comeback for the UDF in Kerala.
Asked whether the Sabarimala gold loss issue had affected the LDF in the local polls, Venugopal said the CM and the CPI(M) state secretary did not take the issue seriously.
"We took a strong stand on the matter. The BJP played a foul game in it," he alleged.
On the BJP's role in the local body elections, Venugopal alleged that the party operated with the CPI(M) 's tacit support.
"The CPI(M) supported the central government on issues such as PM-SHRI, labour codes and corruption in national highway construction. The CPI(M) is facing ideological decline, and the state government’s policies are against the party’s own decisions," he said.
Meanwhile, LDF ally Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani said the party could not win all the wards it had expected in the elections.
He congratulated winners from all parties and said the party would closely examine the losses and identify shortcomings. "Later, we will take corrective measures," he added.
Senior Congress leader and MP Rajmohan Unnithan said the trends in the local body elections indicated that the UDF would return to power in the 2026 Assembly elections.
"We will win 111 seats as in 1977 and return to power in 2026. The anti-government sentiment of the people is reflected in the elections," he said.
Unnithan said the people were disturbed and unhappy with the present government.
"The trend indicates the end of the LDF government," he added.
CPI(M) MLA M M Mani said the people had shown ingratitude towards the LDF despite benefiting from welfare schemes.
"After receiving all welfare schemes and living comfortably, people voted against us due to some temporary sentiments. Is that not ingratitude," he asked.
Mani said no such welfare initiatives had taken place in Kerala earlier.
"People are receiving pensions and have enough to eat. Even after getting all this, they voted against us. This is what can be called ingratitude," he said.
Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the results were beyond expectations.
"The outcome points towards the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, indicating that a change of government is imminent. We are going to win the Assembly election," he said.
