After J-K CM Omar Abdullah, TMC’s Abhishek Banerjee Questions Congress’s Stance On EVMs, Demands Proof Of Hacking

The INDIA bloc's division over EVM came to the fore with TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee questioning Congress's tampering claims after Jammu-Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah dismissed the party’s objections.

New Delhi: TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee during ongoing Winter session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024.

Source : PTI

The INDIA bloc's differences over the reliability of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) intensified on Monday, with Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP and National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee publicly questioning Congress's claims about EVM tampering. Banerjee dismissed the allegations as "random statements" and urged those making such claims to demonstrate the hacking process to the Election Commission of India (ECI).

“The people who raise questions on EVM, if they have anything, then they should go and show a demo to the Election Commission. If work is done properly at the time of EVM randomisation, and the people who work on the booth check during mock polls and counting, then I don't think there is any substance in this allegation. If still someone feels that EVMs can be hacked, then they should meet the Election Commission and show how EVMs can be hacked. Nothing can be done by just making random statements,” the Diamond Harbour MP asserted.

#WATCH | Delhi: On J&K CM Omar Abdullah's reported statement on Congress's EVM allegations, TMC MP and party National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, says "The people who raise questions on EVM, if they have anything then they should go and show a demo to the Election… pic.twitter.com/oXJYr09s0u

— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2024

The Congress recently reignited the EVM debate following its losses in the Haryana and Maharashtra Assembly elections, alleging manipulation in the electoral process. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh had claimed that targeted manipulation took place in Maharashtra, calling the election machinery’s functioning "dangerous for democracy."

However, Abhishek Banerjee’s remarks align with those of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who criticised Congress’s stance on EVMs. In an interview with news agency PTI, CM Omar Abdullah dismissed the party’s objections, stating, “You can’t accept election results when you win and blame EVMs when you lose. When you get a hundred-plus members of Parliament using the same EVMs, and you celebrate that as a victory, you can’t then turn around and say you don’t like these EVMs because results aren’t going your way.”

He emphasised the need for consistency, saying, “If you have problems with EVMs, then you should be consistent in those problems. Parties should not contest elections if they do not trust the voting mechanism.” He also shared his own experience of facing defeat in Lok Sabha elections without attributing it to EVMs, highlighting that voters’ choices vary from one election to another.

EXCLUSIVE | VIDEO: "When you get a hundred plus members of Parliament using the same EVMs, and you celebrate that as sort of a victory for your party, you can't then a few months later turn around and say... we don't like these EVMs because now the election results aren't going… pic.twitter.com/Qw45i9vGrm

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 15, 2024

Taking a dig at Congress, the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister further commented, “No, it’s just that… what’s right is right,” adding that his stance is based on principles rather than partisan loyalty. He also expressed support for the Central Vista project, calling the new Parliament building a "damn good thing."

BJP Seizes On Opposition Division Over EVMs

The BJP, seizing the opportunity, attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over Abdullah's statements. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said, “If Rahul Gandhi does not know how to fight elections, then he should not blame Electronic Voting Machines.” Patra further alleged that the INDIA bloc, of which Congress is a part, is the "biggest scam," accusing its allies of projecting conflicting leadership.

"Leadership is not earned and not demanded. You have to have the qualities of a leader. You cannot impose yourself," he remarked, as quoted by PTI.

Abdullah’s comments also highlighted tensions within the National Conference-Congress alliance in Jammu and Kashmir as the Congress had not contributed sufficiently to their joint campaign during the Assembly elections, where the NC won 42 seats while Congress secured six. Abdullah pointed out that the same EVMs were used in both Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, calling out the inconsistency in the allegations.

Both Abhishek Banerjee and Omar Abdullah’s remarks bring forth the fault lines within the INDIA bloc over the EVM debate raised by the Congress.