BSP alleges EVMs tampered, holds demonstrations

NEW DELHI: Exactly a month after the party suffered a rout in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Tuesday observed a protest day alleging tampering with EVM machines in the Assembly polls. BSP workers held demonstrations at district headquarters, besides UP’s capital city of Lucknow.

BSP leaders informed cadres about the party’s plan to continue its fight from Parliament to the streets and the court against what they said tampering with EVMs in the polls. In Lucknow, BSP workers led by former minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui held a demonstration. After its dismal performance in the assembly polls, BSP is passing through a difficult phase and Tuesday’s demonstration might be helpful for it to mobilise party workers and keep their morale high.

The BSP won only 19 seats in the 403-member UP assembly. It could not get any seat in Uttarakhand. Despite its poor show in the polls, the BSP has so far avoided any major change in the party organisation.


In the meantime, it has started showing a liberal attitude to bring its old warhorses back to the party fold. UP’s former minister Daddu Prasad, who is from the Bundelkhand region, and former Rajya Sabha member Isam Singh have returned to the BSP in the past week. Sources said BSP chief Mayawati has decided to engage both leaders in organisational works again.

ET View: Ridiculous
The BSP ‘s charge, with any proof, that electronic voting machines (EVMs) were manipulated in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections is ridiculous. Such baseless charges will undermine people’s confidence in the voting system. This will adversely impact their participation in polls.

The use of EVMs successfully reduced voting fraud and manipulation that were par for the course during the paper ballot era. In demanding a return to more problematic voting practices, the BSP is undermining the constitutionally mandated institution, the Election Commission.