Jagan Reddy backs Congress’s claim of EVM manipulation After Haryana poll results
New Delhi: YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has voiced support for the Congress party’s allegations of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) manipulation, advocating for a return to paper ballots to ensure transparency in the electoral process. Reddy’s comments came in the wake of the Haryana assembly election results, which he claims defied expectations and exit poll predictions.
Drawing parallels between the recent Haryana outcome and the Andhra Pradesh assembly election results earlier this year, Reddy emphasized the need for measures that instill confidence in democratic processes. The YSRCP chief suggested that adopting paper ballots, as practiced in developed countries like the USA, UK, Canada, and others, would enhance the credibility of elections in India.
In a post on social media, Reddy stated that democracy must not only exist but be seen to thrive, and the only way to achieve this is by reverting to paper ballots. He urged lawmakers to consider such changes, emphasising that many developed nations still rely on paper ballots to ensure the integrity of their electoral systems.
The Congress party, following its defeat in Haryana, has rejected the mandate, alleging that the election system was misused. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh remarked that the Congress had been made to lose but “has not lost.”
In response to Congress’s claims, the Election Commission of India (ECI) dismissed the allegations as baseless and stated that they move towards an undemocratic rejection of the people’s will expressed through a fair electoral process.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
