The EVM machine is once again in the news. Prime Minister Modi, while speaking in the Parliament, predicted that the NDA will bring more than 400 seats in the upcoming parliamentary elections this year. And his party alone will win 370 seats. After this remark, opposition leaders questioned how prime minister Modi knows before the elections that his party will get 370 seats?
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, “How did Modi ji know before the elections that there will be 370 seats ? If they have removed Article 370, it means you will get 370 seats. I think there is a secret hidden in the EVMs. It seems Modi ji has a hand in the EVMs. Will the right to vote of the people be properly protected if the leader of the country makes such a statement before the elections? I doubt that. ”
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Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha said by giving the exact number of seats, Modi has increased doubts over the functioning of EVMs.
He said “If they are saying that the BJP will get 370 seats and the NDA alliance will get more than 400 seats, does that mean EVM is set?” He further added, “You are the Prime Minister of the country, you should have said that we will come back with a thumping majority. But when you give the exact number, doubts arise.”
A lot of questions have been raised about EVMs in recent years. All the opposition parties have demanded from the Election Commission of India for 100 percent VVPAT, which the commission called regressive before the Supreme Court and refused. The Commission is not even giving time to these parties to express their concerns. As an independent constitutional body, ECI should be accessible to all parties. Not listening to the apprehensions of these parties is what drive them to cast a doubt on the functioning of the commission.
These parties have also expressed their concerns on the procedure of appointment of the election commissioners. According to the new law, the present government has got more votes in the appointment of the commissioners. For this reason, the concerns about EVM manipulation have increased manifold.
