Cong questions survey on EVM's accuracy, BJP calls it 'direct blow' to 'Vote Chori' narrative
Bengaluru (PTI): The ruling Congress in Karnataka on Friday questioned the credibility of the survey that found a majority of citizens in the state believe elections in India are conducted freely and fairly and that EVM's deliver accurate results.
The opposition BJP, however, termed the report as a "direct blow" to Rahul Gandhi's 'Vote theft' narrative.
The findings are part of a study titled “Lok Sabha Elections 2024 – Evaluation of Endline Survey of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) of Citizens”, published for Karnataka Monitoring and Evaluation Authority (KMEA). The survey report dated August 2025 was recently made public.
The KMEA functions under the Planning, Programme Monitoring and Statistics Department and is the state’s apex institution for promoting evidence-based policymaking. The study was commissioned to assess the impact of the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme implemented by the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer Karnataka.
The survey was carried out in May 2025 by Mysuru-based GRAAM (Grassroots Research and Advocacy Movement).
The findings come at a time when the Congress is running a campaign on alleged electoral irregularities, led by senior party leader Rahul Gandhi.
They also emerge as the Karnataka government has proposed conducting all future panchayat and urban local body elections in the State using ballot papers, citing an alleged erosion of public confidence in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
"Survey commissioned by the Election Commission through the State Chief Electoral Officer. Survey conducted by a Modi’s man who works in the PMO and has authored a lavish tribute to the PM," Karnataka Minister for IT/BT Priyank Kharge said in a post on 'X', in an apparent reference to GRAAM founder R Balasubramaniam.
Pointing out that the survey was conducted in May 2025, while detailed vote chori exposé by the Congress came out in August 2025, he said, "Survey covered only 50 respondents per Assembly. Statistically weak, prone to wide sampling error and selection bias and not suitable for drawing conclusions."
Accusing the BJP of "falsely peddling" the survey as “State Government survey”, he said, "interestingly, BJP is silent on the Aland Vote Chori charge sheet which has named former BJP MLA as A1 (accused number 1)."
Senior Congress leader and MLC B K Hariprasad mentioned that GRAAM's survey claimed that a majority percent of people in Karnataka have accepted the EVM system.
According to him, the survey appears to be pleasing or supporting the Election Commission of India.
The survey framing is pro ECI. The questions are framed around belief and perception, not verifiable audit, transparency, or accountability.
"(There is ) no serious probing on: EVM malfunction complaints VVPAT mismatch concerns Demand for 100 per cent VVPAT counting This conveniently supports the ECI’s long-standing position that EVMs are beyond doubt," he said in a statement.
The survey was publicised amid national debate on EVM credibility, Hariprasad said adding it comes at a time when opposition parties are raising concerns on electoral integrity, Courts are hearing petitions on EVM-VVPAT verification.
"The timing makes it appear like a defensive narrative-building exercise for ECI. GRAAM is founded by R Balasubramaniam who is a member of Modi’s think tank and has written a Modimala."
"The GRAAM survey does not strengthen democracy, does not address transparency concerns, functions as a perception-management report, it helps the Election Commission defend itself, instead of encouraging reforms. Democracy does not survive on manufactured consent or perception surveys," he added.
Reacting to the survey report, state BJP President B Y Vijayendra said Congress’ “Vote Chori” stands exposed once again.
"The survey report published by the Government of Karnataka clearly shows that a decisive majority of our people believe elections in India are conducted freely and fairly. This is a direct blow to Rahul Gandhi, who, unable to accept Congress repeated electoral failures, chose to invent the “Vote Chori” narrative and launch a reckless campaign casting doubts on the Election Commission. In doing so, he repeatedly attempted to mislead the public and weaken trust in a constitutional institution of impeccable repute," he posted on 'X.
In Karnataka, this insecurity translated into governance decisions, as the Siddaramaiah led government, eager to appease its high command, announced that local body elections would be conducted using ballot papers, a regressive move that pulls the State backwards, undoing years of technological progress and hard-earned public confidence in electronic voting, he said.
As per the survey report, the majority of respondents across all divisions believe that elections in India are conducted freely and fairly, with 91.31 per cent agreeing, which includes 6.76 per cent neutral.
It also said a large majority of respondents trust that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) provide accurate results, with 69.39 per cent agreeing and 14.22 per cent strongly agreeing overall.
A total of 5,100 respondents were surveyed across 102 assembly constituencies, covering all 34 election districts in Karnataka, representing rural, urban, and reserved constituencies across the state’s four divisions -- Bengaluru, Belagavi, Kalaburagi and Mysuru.
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MP HC sets up judicial commission to probe water contamination in Indore
Indore (PTI): The Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court on Tuesday set up a commission of inquiry comprising a former HC judge to probe the issue of water contamination in city's Bhagirathpura, saying the matter requires probe by an independent, credible authority and "urgent judicial scrutiny".
It also directed the commission to submit an interim report after four weeks from the date of commencement of proceedings.
A division bench of Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi constituted the commission while hearing several public interest litigations (PILs) filed simultaneously regarding the deaths of several people in Bhagirathpura due to the consumption of contaminated water.
The HC reserved the order after hearing all the parties during the day, and released it late at night.
The state government on Tuesday told the HC that the deaths of 16 people in Indore's Bhagirathpura area was possibly linked to a month-long outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water.
The government presented an audit report of 23 deaths from the current gastroenteritis epidemic in Bhagirathpura before the bench, suggesting that 16 of these fatalities may have been linked to the outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water.
The report, prepared by a committee of five experts from the city's Government Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, stated that the deaths of four people in Bhagirathpura were unrelated to the outbreak, while no conclusion could be reached regarding the cause of death of three other people in the area.
During the hearing, the high court sought to know from the state government the scientific basis behind its report.
The division bench also expressed surprise at the state government's use of the term "verbal autopsy" in relation to the report, sarcastically stating that it had heard the term for the first time.
The HC expressed concern over the Bhagirathpura case, stating that the situation was "alarming," and noted that cases of people falling ill due to contaminated drinking water have also been reported in Mhow, near Indore.
In its order, the HC said the serious issue concerning contamination of the drinking water supply in Bhagirathpura area allegedly resulted in widespread health hazards to residents, including children and elderly persons.
According to the petitioners and media reports, death toll is about 30 till today, but the report depicts only 16 without any basis or record, it said.
It is averred that sewage mixing, leakage in the pipeline, and failure of civic authorities to maintain potable water standards have led to the outbreak of water-borne diseases. Photographs, medical reports, and complaints submitted to the authorities prima facie indicate a matter requiring urgent judicial scrutiny, the HC said.
"Considering the gravity of the allegation and affecting the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India and the need for an independent fact-finding exercise, the Court is of the opinion that the matter requires investigation by an independent, credible authority," it said.
"Accordingly, we appoint Justice Sushil Kumar Gupta, former judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, a one-man commission of inquiry into the issues relating to water contamination in Bhagirathpura, Indore, and its impact on other areas of the city," the HC added.
As per the order, the commission shall inquire into and submit a report on the cause of contamination -- whether the drinking water supplied to Bhagirathpura was contaminated; and the source and nature of contamination (sewage ingress, industrial discharge, pipeline damage etc).
The panel will also probe the number of actual deaths of affected residents on account of contaminated water; find out the nature of disease reported and adequacy of medical response and preventive measures; suggest immediate steps required to ensure safe drinking water as well as long-term infrastructural and monitoring reforms.
It will also identify and fix responsibility upon the officers and officials found prima facie responsible for the Bhagirathpura water contamination incident, and suggest guidelines for compensation to affected residents, particularly vulnerable sections.
The commission shall have powers of a civil court for the purpose of summoning officials and witnesses; calling up records from the government department, hospitals, laboratories and civic bodies; ordering water quality testing through accredited laboratories; conducting spot inspections.
All state authorities involving district administration, Indore Municipal Corporation, public health engineering department and Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board shall extend full co-operation and provide records as sought by the commission, it said.
The state government shall provide office space, staff, and logistical support to the commission, it said.
During the hearing in the day, the state government also presented a status report to the court in this matter.
According to reports, a total of 454 patients were admitted to local hospitals during the vomiting and diarrhea outbreak, of whom 441 have been discharged after treatment, and 11 are currently hospitalised.
According to officials, due to a leak in the municipal drinking water pipeline in Bhagirathpura, sewage from a toilet was also mixed in the water.
