Tue Nov 26 11:45:46 UTC 2024: ## Congress Demands Return to Ballot Papers After Maharashtra Election Loss
**New Delhi, [Date]** – Following a crushing defeat in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, Congress party chief Mallikarjun Kharge today launched a scathing attack on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), demanding a return to ballot papers. Kharge, speaking at the ‘Samvidhan Rakshak Abhiyaan’ function in Delhi, claimed that EVMs disenfranchise poor and oppressed communities, whose votes he alleges are being wasted.
This call comes on the heels of the Supreme Court dismissing a petition seeking the same change. The Court’s reasoning cited that allegations of EVM tampering are typically raised only after electoral losses. Undeterred, Kharge proposed a nationwide campaign, mirroring the scale and impact of the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra, to advocate for the reinstatement of ballot papers. He urged Rahul Gandhi to spearhead this new movement.
Maharashtra Pradesh Congress chief Nana Patole echoed Kharge’s sentiments, refusing to accept the election results and citing widespread public concerns about EVM manipulation. The Congress secured a mere 16 seats in Maharashtra, a stark contrast to the BJP’s 132. Patole highlighted alleged discrepancies between cast votes and recorded results, suggesting a mass movement may be the only recourse to address these concerns.
These accusations follow similar allegations made by the Congress after the Haryana state elections in October, where the party also alleged EVM tampering. These claims have been refuted by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, who emphasized the security and robustness of EVMs.
The Congress’s renewed push for ballot papers marks a significant escalation in its post-election strategy, highlighting the party’s deep dissatisfaction with the results and its belief in widespread EVM irregularities.
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