Maharashtra polls: ‘If Israel can kill people by…’ — Cong leader flags concerns over EVMs, says ‘PM has good relations…’

As the Election Commission (EC) of India has announced the dates for the Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections, a senior Congress leader has raised concerns over the credibility of electronic voting machines (EVMs). 

Maharashtra assembly elections will be held in a single phase on November 20, and the votes will be counted on November 23. Jharkhand polls will be held in two phases, on November 13 and November 20, and the result will be declared on November 23.

Triggering a fresh controversy, Congress leader Rashid Alvi has cast doubts on the EVMs. "If Israel can allegedly target individuals using pagers and walkie-talkies, what does that imply for the security of EVMs?" Alvi asked. 

He further suggested that the upcoming elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand should be conducted using paper ballots instead of EVMs. 

Alvi's statement assumes significance as it was made on the day the election schedules for Maharashtra and Jharkhand were announced.

"In Maharashtra, the Opposition should put pressure to insist on voting by paper ballot and not EVMs. Otherwise, in Maharashtra, the BJP govt and the EC can do anything. If Israel can kill people by use of pagers and walkie-talkies, then where does EVM stand?" he said.

“The PM has very good relations with Israel. Israel is an expert in such things. EVM ka bada khel kahin bhi ho sakta hai aur uske liye BJP chunav se pehle yeh sab khel kar leti hai.”

What did the EC say?

However, refuting the allegations, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Tuesday assured that EVMs are 100 per cent foolproof

Speaking to ANI, Kumar said, "The public answers questions by participating in the voting. As far as the EVMs are concerned, they are 100 per cent foolproof. If they raise questions today again, we will tell them again."

Last week, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also submitted a memorandum to the poll body on the same matter. Ramesh hoped that the body would take cognizance of the issue and give appropriate instructions.

Taking to social media platform X, Ramesh, the Congress general secretary in charge of communications, wrote, "On October 9, senior Congress party leaders submitted a memorandum full of complaints to the Election Commission. Taking it forward today, we have given an updated memorandum, highlighting serious and clear irregularities in the election process in 20 assembly constituencies of Haryana. We hope that the Election Commission will take cognizance of this and issue appropriate instructions."

The Election Commission announced the poll dates for Maharashtra and Jharkhand on Tuesday.