Does a Recent Survey Confirm EVM Transparency, As Stated by BJP MP?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- The public survey indicates strong trust in EVMs.
- BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab emphasizes the importance of respecting democratic institutions.
- Allegations against EVMs often arise post-election defeats.
- India's electoral practices are advanced compared to many democracies.
- The survey covered 5,100 respondents across multiple regions.
Bhubaneswar, Jan 2 (NationPress) BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab expressed his approval of a recently conducted public survey that revealed a significant number of citizens view Electronic Voting Machine (EVM)-facilitated elections as transparent and credible.
In response to the survey findings, Mahtab stated that the results demonstrate the public's faith in India’s electoral framework, despite ongoing skepticism from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi regarding the reliability of EVMs and the Election Commission of India.
He emphasized that India has developed into one of the world’s most resilient and flourishing democracies, grounded in robust constitutional bodies.
“The Election Commission is a constitutional entity, and it has consistently maintained the integrity of free and fair elections. Casting doubt on such institutions without substantiation only undermines democratic trust,” Mahtab remarked.
The senior BJP MP noted that accusations against EVMs often arise only after electoral losses, describing it as a “sad pattern” in Indian politics.
He pointed out that when parties emerge victorious, they praise the same system, but when outcomes are unfavorable, efforts are made to delegitimize the electoral process.
Mahtab added that India’s electoral practices are significantly more advanced and transparent than those in various other democracies, asserting that ongoing monitoring, legal examination, and constitutional protections guarantee the integrity of the voting process.
Highlighting the need for democratic maturity, he urged political factions to honor the people's decisions and settle disputes within the constitutional framework, instead of questioning the institutions that uphold Indian democracy.
Importantly, the survey conducted by the State Election Commission, Karnataka and released by the Karnataka Monitoring and Evaluation Authority under the Department of Planning, Programme Monitoring and Statistics showed that a majority of respondents believe elections in India are free and fair, with trust in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) on the rise.
This survey involved 5,100 participants from 102 Assembly segments spanning the administrative divisions of Bengaluru, Belagavi, Kalaburagi, and Mysuru.
Titled "Lok Sabha Elections 2024- Evaluation of endline survey of KAP (Knowledge, Attitude and Practice) of Citizens", the survey was overseen by the Karnataka Monitoring Authority and was executed by the Grassroots Research and Advocacy Movement based in Bengaluru.