NEW DELHI: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has addressed the controversy surrounding the outcome of the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, defending the integrity of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Following his party’s disappointing results in the state elections, Tharoor took to social media to clarify his stance, stating that while the machines themselves are not problematic, the larger ‘machinery’ of the electoral process warrants scrutiny. Tharoor emphasized that EVMs, a vast improvement over paper ballots, should not be blamed for any electoral discrepancies. However, he expressed concerns over the potential manipulation of the voting process, where entire EVMs could potentially be added to the tally, thus inflating voter turnout figures.
Tharoor called for more transparency from the Election Commission, stating that their silence on the matter is damaging to public trust. His comments come in the wake of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s call for a return to paper ballots, which Tharoor disagreed with. He pointed out that reverting to paper ballots would not solve the issue, as fraudulent practices could still occur with both paper ballots and EVMs.
The controversy surrounding the Maharashtra results has intensified discussions about the fairness of the electoral process, with the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance claiming a significant victory. Tharoor’s remarks underline the need for electoral reforms that address not only the technology used but also the systems that govern its use, ensuring that the election results truly reflect the will of the people.
Web Team C6N
){kind=link}