New Delhi [India], October 16 (ANI): Amid Congress' allegations on Electronic Voting Machines (EVM), Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said on Wednesday that Congress has accepted defeat even before the elections were announced and they have given a "Pre-poll" excuse as well.
Talking to ANI, Poonawalla said, "After the successful conduct of elections in J-K and Haryana where people participated in a large number, now we welcome the announcement of the election dates for Maharashtra and Jharkhand. In both the states, BJP-led governments will be formed and having said that Congress party has now started making pre-poll alibis and excuses. First, they used to make post-poll alibis to save Rahul Gandhi from electoral defeat in Haryana. They blamed the EVMs after the election. This time, they started blaming the EVMs even before the first date was announced."
"They are connecting it with a pager which is a connecting device and has a network connection...They have no real agenda. Therefore, they have accepted their defeat even before the election schedule was announced," he added.
He further emphasized that the BJP has done development and welfare in both Maharashtra and Jharkhand, the party will form the government.
Notably, Congress had alleged that varying EVM battery levels across different polling stations in Haryana might have impacted the poll results on October 8 in which the BJP returned to power third time in a row, defying poll predictions. Congress claimed that on EVMs with 99 per cent charge Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won, whereas other machines which had 60 per cent charge Congress won.
Dismissing allegations of 'varying EVM battery levels', Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar said Electronic Voting Machines are totally "safe and robust," and have batteries like a calculator, not like a mobile which will be charged everyday.
"People also ask, if pagers can be hacked then why can't EVMs be hacked? Pagers are connected but EVMs are not," he said during a press conference while annoucing the poll dates for Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections on Tuesday.
CEC Kumar also explained that EVMs had three-layered security and signatures of political party representatives were taken to ensure transparency.
The assembly elections in Maharashtra will be held in a single phase on November 20 and the votes will be counted on November 23.
The key contenders in the Maharashtra elections are the ruling Mahayuti Alliance, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition, comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and Congress.
Jharkhand is set to vote in two phases in assembly polls to be held on November 13 and 20 while Maharashtra will go in for a single-phase election on November 20, the Election Commission announced on Tuesday. (ANI)
You may also like
Starlink Sets Its Sights on India: Musk's Vision for Better Connectivity
SCO meeting: Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif stays silent on Kashmir
'My son has come back': Murdered fan Renukaswamy's father as grandson born
Alastair Cook, Neetu David And AB De Villiers Inducted Into The ICC Hall Of Fame As Class Of 2024
'Stylish' ankle wellies are 'so comfortable and a godsend in wet weather' - and under £20
Diwali BONANZA! Haryana anganwadi workers salary hike announced ahead of festival
YSRCP leader Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy summoned for questioning in TDP office attack case
Jagmeet Singh calls for sanctions against Indian diplomats and ban on RSS amid diplomatic row
Ex-Liverpool player names the team to stop Man City - but it's not the Reds
Cabinet approves 3 pc hike in DA of central govt employees
Liverpool's Conor Bradley 'had goosebumps' after setting new Northern Ireland record
Conor McGregor fight date shot down immediately by opponent he called out
UAE: Insurers lost up to more than Dh9 billion in heavy April rains this year
Pakistan calls for expansion of China's Belt and Road Initiative
Rohit Sharma has the responsibility of continuing the reign of 36 years, New Zealand will be tested again.
Remove burn marks from a cooker using 1 simple item - not oven cleaner or vinegar
British influencer dies after falling from 192 meters high Castilla-La Mancha bridge
Why is BCCI preparing to remove Harmanpreet Kaur? 5 big reasons came to light including Team India's defeat.
Every trophy Thomas Tuchel has won as ex-Chelsea boss takes charge of England
Trouble Sleeping? Say Goodbye to Insomnia with These 8 Simple Yet Effective Tips