Replacement EVMs for poll losses reflect political reasons

The default reaction of a section of the Opposition these days, especially the Congress Party, when it fails to win an election, is to question the electronic voting machine (EVM). The situation was no different after the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) lost the Maharashtra elections. Just as it did when the Haryana results did not match its expectations, the Congress went on the offensive against EVMs after the Maharashtra verdict. This time, he received the support of MVA ally Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) demanding the revival of paper ballots. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday hinted that the party would launch a campaign against EVMs at an event to celebrate 75 years of the Constitution.

In this context, the Supreme Court’s observations on EVMs on Tuesday while dismissing a plea raising doubts about the sanctity of the election process and voting machines are relevant. The jury pointed out that the process and EVMs are questioned by a party only when it loses. In April this year, the Supreme Court dismissed the challenge against the use of EVMs in elections and termed the demand as “unsound”. At the time – and rightly so – he saw the introduction of EVMs as an electoral reform that increased the sanctity of the process by putting an end to malpractices such as booth hijacking, which was at one point a common feature of Indian elections. The court also expressed satisfaction with the Election Commission of India’s views on the tamper-proof features of the machines.

The surprise of political parties is understandable if the decision goes against them. Voters seem to exercise their franchise with great skill and care: for example, we have repeatedly seen voters in many states voting for different parties of the Lok Sabha and the state legislature, even if elections are held simultaneously. It may be time for the Congress to drop its tired rhetoric on EVM manipulation and think about possible political reasons that could lead to electoral defeats.