Shivraj Chouhan Hits Out At Congress With 'Khisyani Billi' Jibe For Casting Doubts Over EVMs

Madhya Pradesh caretaker CM Shivraj Chouhan and BJP's Prakash Javadekar pointed out the inconsistency in the opposition's stance on EVMs after the Congress leaders questioned the poll machine following the recent state polls.

As Congress leaders cast doubts about the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the aftermath of the recent state assembly polls, leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are dismissing these concerns as an "excuse for impending defeat." Madhya Pradesh caretaker Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and BJP leader Prakash Javadekar have both unequivocally defended the integrity of the EVMs.

The BJP leaders pointed out the inconsistency in the opposition's stance, emphasising that if the EVMs were problematic, how the same machines result in victories for the grand old party in other states.

Chouhan, when asked about opposition leaders' skepticism, remarked, "This is 'Khisyani billi khamba noche' (The angry cat scratches the pillar meaning anger vented on one not responsible). If there was an issue with EVM, how did they (Congress) win in Chhindwara and how did they win in Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh?"

"They knew of their impending defeat and started speaking about EVMs. It's not EVM, their arrogance lost. They ruined Madhya Pradesh... People of MP rejected them. They deceived the electorate and did not fulfill several promises such as of loan waivers. The electorate took their revenge," he added.

Speaking to news agency PTI, Javadekar also raised similar sentiments saying, "I really wonder - Digvijaya Singh, Akhilesh (Yadav) - and others are raising doubts about EVM when they have won in Karnataka and Telangana. Why BJP lost and they (Congress) won in Karnataka, it was the same EVM. EVM is not at fault, there is fault in Congress and opposition leaders' mindset. They are desperate and know that they are going to lose very badly in the 2024 parliament election."

"Therefore, they are preparing some excuse. The excuse of EVM is absolutely wrong. There are 11 states which do not have BJP government but there EMVs were good and now EVMs are bad... The same Election Commission, the same machines but they don't believe in people's choice," he remarked.

Congress Leaders Question EVMs After Triple Loss In Assembly Polls

Senior Congress leaders like Digvijaya Singh and Kamal Nath reiterated their concerns over EVMs following the party's poll rout in recently held assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh.

Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijaya Singh, who has been a vocal critic of EVMs, raised concerns about the possibility of hacking, stating, "Any machine with a chip can be hacked." He questioned the security of India's democracy in the hands of potential hackers.

Speaking to ANI, Singh highlighted, "I don't trust EVMs since 2003. With VVPAT, we get to see the vote for 7 seconds, but why don't we receive a ballot paper? The slip that is shown on VVPAT can be handed to us. Any machine which has a chip in it, there is a possibility it can be hacked."

MP Congress President Kamal Nath expressed concerns about the election results, with some MLAs reporting unusually low vote counts in their villages. He also suggested that exit polls were designed to influence public perception.

"Everyone knows what the atmosphere was in the state. Some MLAs met me today in the morning and said that they got 50 votes in their own villages, how is this possible?" questioned Kamal Nath, as per news agency ANI.

"The exit poll was to create an atmosphere. The one who knew the result in advance might have prepared the exit polls," he added.

Chhattisgarh's outgoing Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel questioned the BJP's sensitivity towards EVM discussions saying, "Why should they feel so offended? They get offended, which means there must be something. It will come up before you if the issue is taken up further", as per PTI. 

Congress Made Biggest Mistake By Bringing EVM: Farooq Abdullah

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah also demanded that the voting machines be checked, stating, "We need to check the EVMs. EVMs cannot be removed but if we need quick results in elections, we need to try to improve the EVMs. So that your vote goes where you actually mean to give it."

"The Congress made the biggest mistake by bringing this machine, it was their mistake. They wouldn't have faced this situation. Mistakes happen is all I can say," he told ANI.

The debate over EVM integrity comes ahead of the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha election as a section of Opposition leaders seek a return to the ballot paper, while the BJP maintains that such concerns are a preemptive excuse for an anticipated electoral defeat.