Guwahati, Oct 29 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday asserted that the BJP has demonstrated its electoral strength in both electronic voting machines (EVMs) and ballot paper elections, dismissing allegations and doubts raised by the opposition over the voting process.
Speaking to reporters here, Sarma cited the BJP’s victory in the Nagaon Lok Sabha election conducted through EVMs and contrasted it with the party’s performance in Silchar Municipality polls, where an election held through ballot papers recently resulted in a victory for his party.
The Chief Minister said the results of elections conducted through both voting methods demonstrated that the BJP enjoys public support, irrespective of the voting system used.
“Whether it is a ballot paper or an EVM, the BJP is winning. The entire Nagaon election was conducted through EVMs, and the BJP won there. Two days ago, an election was held in Silchar through ballot papers, and we won there too,” Sarma said.
He also expressed confidence that the BJP would perform well in the upcoming municipal elections in Nagaon, which he said would be conducted using ballot papers.
“Municipal elections in Nagaon will be held next month, and those elections will also be conducted through ballot papers. We will win there as well. We are winning through ballot papers and EVMs alike,” he added.
Taking a further swipe at the Congress, Sarma referred to the recent elections for Members of Legislative Councils (MLCs) across the country, claiming that the opposition party had managed to win only one seat.
He pointed out that these elections were conducted through ballot papers, arguing that the results further strengthened the BJP’s position against allegations questioning the credibility of EVM-based elections.
“The MLC elections were held across the country, and Congress managed to win only one. This time, all the elections were conducted through ballot papers,” the Chief Minister said.
Sarma’s remarks come amid continuing political debates over the credibility of EVMs, with opposition parties, including the Congress, repeatedly raising concerns about the electoral process.
The BJP has consistently defended the use of EVMs, maintaining that elections conducted through the machines are transparent and reliable. The upcoming municipal elections in Assam are expected to provide another test of the political strength of the ruling BJP and the opposition parties in the state.
–IANS
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