In a major embarrassment for the grand old party, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram rubbished the party’s shrill rhetoric against Electronic Voting machines (EVMs). He stressed that senior leaders of the Congress party should give “scientific data” to prove “EVM manipulation” adding that he has no doubt about the efficacy of EVMs. Son of Former UPA Minister P Chidambaram, Karti categorically emphasised that he has been contesting elections, that used EVMs for counting, since 2004 with no personal experience to cast aspersions on EVM machines.
Stressing that he has no evidence to prove EVM manipulation or tampering, Karti indirectly challenged his senior party leaders to either come up with evidence of tampering otherwise shun the shrill rhetoric.
Speaking with news agency ANI, Congress MLA Karti Chidambaram said, “…I have been participating in elections using EVMs since 2004. I have personally had no bad experience. Nor do I have any evidence to prove that there has been any kind of manipulation or tampering. If others have any kind of doubt about the efficacy of EVMs, it is really for them to say. But I personally have no doubt about the robustness of the efficacy of EVMs. Because we win elections in EVMs, we lose elections in EVMs. Unless someone actually proves with scientific data that there has been manipulation, I am not willing to change my view. I know that many in my party have a different point of view, it’s really for them to explain it.”
#WATCH | Delhi: On EVMs, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram says, “…I have been participating in elections using EVMs since 2004. I have personally had no bad experience. Nor do I have any evidence to prove that there has been any kind of manipulation or tampering. If others have… pic.twitter.com/Y6b6cLb1Rn
— ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2024
To look away from the reasons for its recurrent electoral defeats, the I.N.D.I. alliance has kept the allegations of “faults” in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) as the central theme in its political narrative. Over the past decade, leaders of the I.N.D.I. alliance have been blatantly pushing a smear campaign against EVMs, moving from Indian courts to public rallies, election campaigns, and even international platforms — such as Kapil Sibal’s participation in an infamous London press conference on alleged “EVM hacking.” However, no concrete evidence has ever been presented in court, nor have any efforts been made to participate in the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) hackathon on EVMs.
Additionally, the Supreme Court has on multiple times, stamped its authority over the efficacy of EVMs and junked baseless pleas against it. But the recent drubbing from its own party leader will add woes to an already sinking political ship- Congress.
