Picking up the threads of their criticism against it before and during the Lok Sabha polls, the Opposition INDIA bloc trained its guns on the Election Commission in Parliament over a range of issues, including EVMs. While Akhilesh Yadav, president of Samajwadi Party, which has 37 MPs in Lok Sabha, said he will not trust EVMs “even if I win all 80 seats” in Uttar Pradesh, RJD’s Manoj Jha referred to the popular TV series “Panchayat” and said, “Even the village head of Phulera in the series has more credibility than the Election Commission.” During the election period, the Opposition had targeted the EC over allegations of “faulty” electoral rolls and also raised questions over EVMs and the delay in turnout data. On results day, CEC Rajiv Kumar call the verdict — a loss of majority for BJP and significant gains for INDIA bloc — “a vindication” of the poll panel’s “impartiality”. Speaking in Lok Sabha, Akhilesh said there were question marks on the EC’s conduct. “When model code of conduct was in force, the EC and the Government were kind to some people… If that institution will be impartial, our democracy will be healthy and appear stronger in the world,” he said. Calling for removal of EVMs from the electoral process, he said: “I had no trust in EVMs in the past, I have no trust today as well, and will not have trust even if I win all the 80 (Lok Sabha) seats (in UP).” On Monday, in Rajya Sabha, RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha cited a pre-poll survey and said it had stated that “only 28% of respondents trust Election Commission”. TMC member Kalyan Banerjee, too, in his remarks on Tuesday, targeted the poll panel.
