Punjab result highlights: Kejriwal alleges foul play in EVMs, says 20-25% AAP votes transferred to Akalis

NEW DELHI: Alleging foul play in functioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) during the recently-concluded state elections, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal said Election Commission (EC) should review elections results.

AAP's poor tally of 20 seats is "beyond understanding" and raises a "big question mark" on the reliability of electronic voting machines (EVMs) as political pundits across the spectrum had "predicted a landslide" for the party, Kejriwal said today.

Alleging foul play, Kejriwal said AAP's votes were stolen in Punjab and were given to Akali-BJP combine. He also questioned that how Akali could get 30 per cent votes, when there was a strong anti-incumbency wave against the ruling alliance?


"There is a speculation that BJP and Akali transferred AAP's 20 per cent to 25 per cent in their favour... People were saying there was anger against Akali's and AAP will sweep polls, still SAD got 30 per cent votes, how is it possible?"

"Nobody was predicting Congress wave, but still the party got two-third majority," he questioned.

"People are losing faith on EVMs and poll panel should repose faith through a fair probe," he said.

Requesting a probe, Kejriwal said, "We know it is too late to declare Punjab, Goa elections void but, for future, faith should be restored in the electoral process. The issue can't be brushed under the carpet."

"EC should count slips of VVPAT and match it with figures of EVM results and if it matches with the actual result, people's trust will increase," he said.

Kejriwal also pointed out a number of constituencies where the AAP apparently got votes lesser than even the number of AAP volunteers there, and argued that EVMs should be withdrawn as they are prone to tampering.

Supporting his allegations, he said: "Even Supreme Court has said that EVMs are vulnerable and prone to tampering. Many western countries have banned the EVMs."

Kejriwal-led AAP had requested the poll panel to conduct Delhi civic polls through paper ballot and not use EVM. The demand was rejected by the Election Commission.