BJP’s Shehzad Poonawalla Responds to Congress’ EVM Allegations
In New Delhi, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla addressed Congress’ claims about Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). He stated that Congress has already accepted defeat before elections were announced, calling their claims a “pre-poll” excuse. Poonawalla highlighted the successful elections in Jammu & Kashmir and Haryana, and expressed confidence in BJP’s victory in Maharashtra and Jharkhand.
Congress alleged that EVM battery levels affected Haryana’s poll results, claiming BJP won on machines with 99% charge. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar dismissed these claims, assuring that EVMs are “safe and robust” with three-layered security. He clarified that EVMs are not like pagers and cannot be hacked.
The Maharashtra assembly elections will occur on November 20, with results on November 23. The main contenders are the ruling Mahayuti Alliance and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition. Jharkhand will vote in two phases on November 13 and 20.
Doubts Revealed
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party. It is one of the two major political parties in India, known for its nationalist policies.
Shehzad Poonawalla -: Shehzad Poonawalla is a spokesperson for the BJP. A spokesperson is someone who speaks on behalf of a group or organization.
Congress -: Congress refers to the Indian National Congress, another major political party in India. It is often seen as a rival to the BJP.
EVM -: EVM stands for Electronic Voting Machine. It is a device used to record votes in elections in India, making the voting process faster and more efficient.
Pre-poll excuse -: A pre-poll excuse is a reason or explanation given before an election, often to justify or explain potential poor performance in the election.
Chief Election Commissioner -: The Chief Election Commissioner is the head of the Election Commission of India, responsible for overseeing and ensuring free and fair elections in the country.
Maharashtra and Jharkhand -: Maharashtra and Jharkhand are states in India. Elections in these states determine who will govern them for a set period.
