Defeat in the Maharashtra municipal elections has sparked fresh controversy, with Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole launching a scathing attack on EVMs. Insisting on ballot paper usage, Patole alleged the machines robbed his party of rightful wins, fueling a renewed push against electronic voting.
Results from the high-stakes polls in major cities like Thane, Nashik, and Ulhasnagar delivered a clean sweep for the BJP-led Mahayuti coalition. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), including Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (Sharad Pawar), was routed, controlling fewer than 10% of seats in key bodies.
Patole, flanked by party workers, held a fiery media briefing. ‘EVMs are black boxes controlled by vested interests. Only transparent ballot papers can ensure free and fair elections,’ he declared. He referenced international examples where paper ballots prevail and accused the EC of ignoring tampering evidence.
This isn’t the first time Congress has questioned EVMs. Post-2019 Lok Sabha and 2024 assembly polls, similar allegations surfaced, often rebutted by authorities through mock hacks and audits. The EC maintains EVMs are standalone devices with no internet connectivity, making hacking impossible.
Ruling alliance spokespersons hit back hard. Shiv Sena minister Deepak Kesarkar labeled Patole’s remarks ‘defeatist whining,’ pointing to MVA’s internal rifts and anti-incumbency against Uddhav Thackeray’s regime. ‘People voted for stability and progress, not excuses,’ he said.
The elections highlighted urban Maharashtra’s shifting dynamics. Women’s reservations, Swachh Bharat initiatives, and smart city projects boosted Mahayuti’s appeal. Voter turnout hovered around 55%, with youth participation notably higher.
Patole announced plans for a signature campaign and RTI filings on EVM procurement. ‘We won’t rest until every vote is verifiable,’ he promised. With assembly polls looming, this EVM row could polarize the political landscape further, testing the opposition’s unity and strategy.