With the Bharatiya Janata Party surging to lead in the Karnataka Assembly elections, the debate on the functioning of EVMs has once again gained momentum.
As the BJP won 75 seats and is leading on 29 seats, the Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday dared the BJP government to hold elections with ballot papers for at least once and not EVMs.
“Just one time, I want BJP to head into elections with ballot papers and not EVMs. All the apprehensions will go away,” Uddhav Thackeray was quoted as saying by ANI.
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On the voting day itself, the Congress had raised its voice against the EVMs, as Congress leader Brijesh Kalappa had claimed that an EVM at a polling booth was registering votes only for the BJP’s ‘Lotus’ symbol irrespective of which button was pressed.
“There are five booths opposite my parents’ apartment at RMV II stage (in the northern suburb). In the second booth, any button pressed registers a vote only to ‘kamal ka phool’ (lotus). Angry voters are returning without casting their vote,” tweeted had Kalappa.
Meanwhile, the BJP is likely to finish tantalisingly close to the halfway mark in the Karnataka Assembly elections, if not reach an outright majority, with its candidates winning 75 seats and leading in 29 others.
Congress candidates have won 43 seats and were ahead in 35, while the JD(S) was leading in 39 constituencies.
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In a major development, Congress Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he was going to meet Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala at 5.30 pm today.
It is being said the Congress has reached an understanding with the JD(S) and it is going to stake claim to form the government.
(With agency inputs)