Maya demands fresh polls, says EVMs tampered with

Visibly upset over her party’s worst performance in the Assembly polls, BSP supremo Mayawati on Saturday charged that EVMs had been tampered with and demanded fresh polls in the state using ballot papers.

Addressing a hurriedly convened press conference here, Mayawati said the results were shocking and unbelievable. “The BJP had not fielded any Muslim candidate in the polls, yet the saffron party has done very well in Muslim-dominated regions... it is hard to believe that Muslims have voted for the party... there is something wrong,” she said.

“I have received reports from my supporters from the field... it appears that the votes were credited to BJP nominees even if one pressed different buttons,” she claimed.

The BSP supremo, whose party was reduced to 19 seats, said that democracy was in danger under the NDA rule, and appealed to the Opposition parties to take up the issue raised by her.

She said her party has also written to the Election Commission, demanding repolling in the state.

“If Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah think the elections were not rigged, they should not have any problem in having another election using ballot papers,” she said.

She said similar concerns had been raised in the recently concluded US presidential polls also.

“Let a foreign expert be appointed to conduct an inquiry into the matter... the results should be stayed until then,” Mayawati said.

She said that her party may also approach the court, besides launching an agitation to register its protest against the supposed tampering of EVMs.