Chandrababu Naidu meets Deve Gowda over EVM issue
Bengaluru: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP leader Chandrababu Naidu Tuesday met former prime minister and JDS supremo H D Deve Gowda as part of his efforts to mobilise opposition parties on the controversy over alleged manipulation of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
Confabulating with Gowda for over an hour here late Tuesday night after a meeting of opposition parties in New Delhi on the EVM issue earlier in the day, Naidu said 23 parties were raising the issue and demanding transparency and accountability.
"Earlier, even the BJP had opposed EVMs," he said. "In Uttar Pradesh, we are seeing EVMs in hotels and homes... strong rooms are being changed," Naidu alleged.
Asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacking the bogey of EVM raised by the opposition, Naidu said, "Why is the PM opposing? There is EVM and VVPAT. You have spent Rs 9,000 crore... Why are you not showing transparency and accountability?"
"This means you are doing mischief. You are manipulating EVMs," he alleged.
Gowda said he too had written about the EVMs to the Election Commission in 2006 itself and added that he felt ballot papers should be brought back to avoid these complications.
Already locked in a battle with the EC over the reliability of the EVMs, the opposition parties have pressed for their demand of increasing the tallying of the paper trail of votes (VVPATs) with EVM figures and have submitted a memorandum to the poll panel in New Delhi.
In the memorandum, leaders of 22 opposition parties, including from the Congress, DMK, TDP and the BSP, have demanded that verification of VVPAT slips of randomly identified five polling stations in an assembly segment should be done prior to the initiation of counting of votes and not after the completion of the last round of counting.
Asked about the prime ministerial candidate of the opposition in the event of anti-BJP parties getting the numbers, Naidu said, "We will sit together and discuss the PM candidate after the results on May 23."
On the JDS backing Congress president Rahul Gandhi for the top post, Naidu said, "There was nothing wrong with it. (However) We will sit together and decide.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
FBI Director Kash Patel faces uncertain future amid controversies: Report
New Delhi: Kash Patel, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is reportedly likely to be removed from his position in the administration of Donald Trump, according to recent media reports citing senior White House officials.
The development comes amid a series of controversies surrounding Patel, with reports suggesting that his position has become increasingly tenuous. A White House official was quoted as saying that it is “only a matter of time” before action is taken.
The report surfaced shortly before a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, adding to the tense political environment.
Patel, who gained prominence for his strong stance against what he described as the “deep state” and his alignment with Trump’s political messaging during the 2024 election campaign, has faced scrutiny over allegations related to past alcohol-related incidents. Reports indicate that he had acknowledged two prior arrests linked to public drinking during his student years.
Further pressure has come from members of the Democratic Party, who have called for Patel to undergo an evaluation related to alcohol consumption patterns. Despite the allegations, Patel has maintained that he has never been intoxicated while on duty.
In March, a hacking incident reportedly linked to an Iran-associated group compromised Patel’s personal email account, leading to the publication of personal material. A Justice Department official confirmed that the breach appeared to be authentic.
The situation follows the recent dismissal of Pam Bondi as US Attorney General earlier this month, a move reportedly driven by dissatisfaction within the administration over legal and political developments. Patel is considered to be among officials whose positions may be under review following her removal.
Despite ongoing speculation, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that President Trump continues to have confidence in Patel. In response to media reports, Patel has filed a $250 million lawsuit against The Atlantic, alleging defamation over claims regarding his conduct.
