The YSR Congress party headed by former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, who lost the power in the last assembly elections in the state with a huge margin, has been expressing doubts over the possible tampering of the electronic voting machines (EVMs).
Though Jagan did not come out so openly on the efficacy of the EVMs on the day of election results in Andhra Pradesh, he made serious comments over the possibility of their tampering after watching the outcome of the Haryana assembly elections.
On the other hand, his party leaders have been directly attributing Naidu’s victory in the Andhra elections to the tampering of EVMs and have been calling him EVM CM.
Added to this, psephologist Aaraa Mastan also alleged that the TDP leaders are very much aware how to tamper with the EVMs.
Against this backdrop, senior YSRCP leader and former MLA from Proddaturu in Kadapa district Rachamallu Sivaprasada Reddy on Tuesday made a serious announcement, saying he would not contest the next assembly elections, if they were held using EVMs again.
“I shall contest the next elections, only if they are held with ballot papers as was done in the past. If the EVMs are used again, I will drop from the race,” he said, adding that there was no point in contesting the elections after knowing that the EVMs could be tampered.
“If the elections are held using EVMs in 2029, the result of 2024 elections will be repeated. So, there is no way I can win the election. Only ballot papers will reflect the people’s union in letter and spirit,” the former MLA said.
Sivaprasada Reddy alleged that the TDP and its allies had indulged in massive tampering of EVMs in 2024 elections.
“Unfortunately, even the Election Commission did not bother to take into consideration our apprehensions over EVMs. We request that the Centre should intervene in the matter and order elections through ballot system,” he added.
Now, it is time Jagan should also come out with clarity on the EVMs. He should clarify whether he would agree with his party’s former MLA in boycotting the next polls, if they are held with EVMs.
“Naturally, people will question whether Jagan will also boycott the polls held with EVMs. Otherwise, there is point in making blind allegations over the tampering,” an analyst argued.