Allegations of EVM tampering without evidence are not adequate, says Sule | news from mumbai

MUMBAI: The Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) seems to have broken ranks with the opposition over the issue of alleged EVM tampering during the recently concluded assembly elections. Party working president Supriya Sule said on Wednesday that she had won four elections in Baramati with EVMs and did not find it necessary to make allegations of rigging without concrete evidence. Sule also said that she was the one who asked NCP (SP) Baramati candidate Yugendra Pawar to withdraw his application, asking to check the burnt memory in the microcontroller of the EVMs.

The MP’s statement is in contradiction with the stand taken by the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT). The two parties blamed EVM manipulation for the crushing defeat in the assembly elections.

“Either it’s a technological problem or the voter list has been changed, I don’t know which,” Sule told reporters on Wednesday. “But I think it’s inappropriate to make accusations until we have concrete evidence.” The MP, however, added that many changes have been made in the voter rolls, which was pointed out by her colleagues and even Arvind Kejriwal, AAP chief and former Delhi chief minister, during his recent meeting.

“Kejriwal was of the view that there is a disparity in the voter rolls,” she said. “Major additions and deletions have been made in the lists between the Lok Sabha polls and the assembly elections, which is disturbing,” she said, adding that she had received a letter from Biju Janata Dal leader Amar Patnaik addressing the issue and pointed out discrepancies in Orissa survey data. “I have to look into it,” she said.

However, not only Sule’s allies but also NCP (SP) leaders said they disagreed with her views. MP Jitendra Awhad replied: “Everyone has their own opinion. Maybe she thinks otherwise but in my opinion EVMs were tampered with to win Maharashtra elections.”

When asked, Sule told HT, “My colleagues believe that the EVMs have been tampered with and support them. But there could be several other reasons, such as changes in the voter list. The poll numbers don’t match either, which is alarming.”

The MLA’s remarks put the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi on the backburner, with the Congress emphasizing what he really meant. “The gist of her statement was that there is some manipulation and the BJP is winning because of it, but she has no proof,” said Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe. “She mentioned that rigging takes place in elections, referring to BJD leader Amar Patnaik’s letter.”

The Shiv Sena (UBT) was cautious in commenting on Sule’s remarks. “I guess it was her individual position, but as part of the MVA, she has the same opinion that we all have,” said MLC Sachin Ahir. “Her remarks should not be taken against the spirit in which they were made. NCP (SP) leaders are also eyeing the EVM issue.”

Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde taunted the opposition and the Congress over Sule’s remarks and said they should stop blaming EVMs only after they lost the polls. “He was right,” Shinde told reporters in Delhi. “For the Lok Sabha and state assembly elections held in Jharkhand, Karnataka and Telangana, where they won, the EVMs were tamper-proof. They started blaming EVMs only when they were defeated.”

Even Congress allies asked the party to stop blaming EVMs and Shinde referred to statements made by Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah and Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee. Both have denied the Congress’ allegations of EVM tampering.