Lucknow, September 28, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati has reiterated her demand for discontinuing Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and restoring the ballot paper system, stating that any doubts over the credibility of votes could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
In a statement issued to the media on Monday, Mayawati said every voter must have complete assurance that the vote cast for a particular candidate has been correctly recorded and included in the counting process. She maintained that ensuring free and fair elections was the responsibility of the Election Commission.
Recalling that elections in India were conducted through ballot papers for several decades, the BSP chief said votes were counted in the presence of representatives of political parties before EVMs replaced the traditional system.
Mayawati pointed out that the BJP had strongly opposed EVMs when the Congress was in power at the Centre, with senior BJP leaders raising concerns about the possibility of electronic chips in the machines being hacked.
However, she said the BJP continued with the EVM-based voting and counting system after coming to power. She added that the BSP had consistently opposed EVMs, claiming that distrust of the machines was growing among its supporters.
Referring to the Nagina Lok Sabha constituency, Mayawati said discussions and apprehensions had emerged locally over the victory of Azad Samaj Party candidate Chandrashekhar Azad. Her remarks came in the context of concerns she raised about the credibility of electronic voting.
She also questioned the effectiveness of the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) system, arguing that doubts among voters could only be fully addressed if all VVPAT slips were matched with the votes recorded in EVMs.
The BSP president further raised concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and other election-related issues, saying that the Election Commission should provide timely clarification to prevent confusion and resentment among Opposition parties and the public.
Mayawati called on the poll body to address questions surrounding the electoral process promptly, stressing that maintaining public confidence in free and fair elections should remain a priority. She reiterated that the BSP wanted elections to be conducted using ballot papers instead of EVMs.
Separately, Mayawati expressed concern over the law and order situation in Delhi, Punjab and other states, urging the respective state governments to take necessary measures to improve the situation.
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