The dust has barely settled on Maharashtra’s civic body elections, yet controversy looms large. Congress chief Nana Patole has accused EVMs of rigging the outcome against his party, passionately advocating for a nationwide switch to ballot papers.
Mahayuti’s triumph was overwhelming: BJP alone clinched over 60% seats in Pune and Nagpur corporations, while allies dominated others. MVA’s poor show—marked by cross-voting and rebel candidates—left Congress pondering its future in urban strongholds.
In a bold statement from Vidhan Bhavan, Patole dissected the ‘EVM fraud.’ ‘Technology has failed democracy. Ballots were foolproof; EVMs invite mischief. The Election Commission must act now,’ he urged, sharing anecdotes of ‘sudden’ vote flips during counting.
Experts weigh in on the divide. Pro-EVM advocates highlight over 10 years of successful usage across billions of votes, with no credible hack demonstrated. Critics, however, demand full VVPAT matching, arguing current 5% verification is inadequate.
NCP’s Ajit Pawar faction, now with Mahayuti, ridiculed the claims. ‘If EVMs were faulty, how did we win in 2019? This is just an excuse for organizational failure,’ quipped a senior leader. Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde echoed, crediting grassroots mobilization.
Beyond EVMs, the polls exposed MVA fractures. Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra had little trickle-down impact, while Mahayuti’s ‘Ladki Bahin’ scheme resonated with women voters. Infrastructure promises sealed the deal in aspirational cities.
Patole’s call has galvanized opposition peers. AAP and Samajwadi Party voiced support, hinting at a united front. As petitions reach courts, the EVM saga underscores deeper trust deficits in India’s electoral system, promising more courtroom drama ahead.